Staff at the Single Digital Patient Record Implementation Authority will push for executive accountability when they meet with Health Service Union representatives later today.
NSW Health’s most senior leaders have remained silent when asked whether they retain confidence in Single Digital Patient Record Implementation Authority (SDPRIA) chief executive Dr Teresa Anderson and her executive team.
As Health Services Daily reported exclusively this morning, a psychosocial risk assessment into the SDPRIA found 84% of participating workers were categorised as “struggling or unwell”, with just 5% classified as “thriving”.
SDPRIA staff are due to meet with the Health Services Union at 4.30pm today after submitting written feedback on the report and its recommendations.
This morning HSD asked NSW health minister Ryan Park, NSW Health secretary Susan Pearce, and eHealth NSW chief executive Richard Taggart whether they retained confidence in Dr Anderson and her executive team’s ability to deliver the statewide rollout. We also asked whether they believed the leadership team could maintain a safe workplace for staff.
None had responded to those questions by deadline.
The report – commissioned by Dr Anderson and delivered by HealthShare NSW – identified role overload, organisational change, job control, and role clarity as the principal psychosocial hazards and recommended strengthening governance arrangements, improving workload management, enhancing consultation and communication, clarifying roles and responsibilities, building leadership capability, and introducing more structured monitoring of psychosocial risks.
One staff member who participated in the psychosocial risk assessment told HSD on the condition of anonymity that the report accurately reflected the experiences of many employees but argued stronger executive accountability would be needed if meaningful change was to occur.
“I participated in the psychosocial risk assessment because I believed it was important that staff experiences were heard,” the staff member said.
“The findings are consistent with what many employees have been saying for a long time regarding the immense workload, the lack of adequate resourcing (staff), the relentless, frenetic pace of delivery, poor organisational communication around change management and hypercare periods, role clarity confusion, and extreme fatigue.
“I’m glad the report recognises that these issues are largely driven by program-level factors such as compressed implementation timeframes and resourcing pressures, rather than a lack of commitment by individual teams.
“It’s clear the problem comes from the top and permeates through the layers of management and to their teams.
“There is no doubt that staff remain deeply committed to the program and to delivering better outcomes for patients, despite these challenges.”
In a letter distributed to staff this morning, Dr Anderson said the SDPRIA accepted the findings of the review.
“While our work in the SDPRIA is very important, the report makes it clear that its delivery is having a real impact on our people,” she wrote.
“I have accepted all recommendations in the report. We accept the findings of this report and view it as an important first step in understanding the psychosocial impacts of the work. We consider the recommendations to be the beginning of the process rather than the final solution.
“We look forward to continuing this work in partnership with staff and their representatives to develop practical implementation solutions and controls that strengthen psychosocial safety and contribute to a positive, supportive, and sustainable workplace.”
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Dr Anderson told staff that NSW Health would contribute to developing a draft implementation plan, which would be shared with staff shortly for their feedback.
“Importantly, this will not be a one-off response,” she wrote.
“We will continue to work with the HSU in monitoring progress against this plan.
“Together with your Executive team, I am committed to addressing the issues identified and creating a healthier and more sustainable working environment for everyone in the SDPRIA.
“I would like to sincerely thank you for your ongoing professionalism, dedication, and commitment to improving the experiences and outcomes of care for the people of NSW through the delivery of the SDPR.
“The work you do every day is highly valued, and we are committed to ensuring the genuine concerns raised through this process result in meaningful and lasting improvements.
“Please take care of yourselves and each other. If you require assistance, no matter how small, don’t hesitate to reach out to your manager, colleagues, the EAP or People & Culture. Your safety and wellbeing are always our utmost priority.”
The staff member said the review provided “a detailed, accurate diagnosis of the issues”, but believed the recommendations should include “clearer governance, measurable outcomes, and very transparent executive accountability”.
“The HSU has asked for members’ feedback and will work with us on how the recommendations can be more tangible and measurable. We need to see progress in the areas contributing to the results of this report,” they said.
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“Given the report identifies psychosocial risks as high, the next stage should definitely involve reviewing the recommendations and coming up with an implementation plan with SDPRIA leadership, the Ministry of Health, and the Health Services Union (who represent the members).
“I would expect to see that plan include defined responsibilities, measurable performance indicators, regular reporting, and independent review so staff can see that improvements are occurring over time.
“The objective should not simply be to acknowledge psychosocial risks but to demonstrably reduce them so we can continue to deliver this vitally important statewide digital health program.”
The SDPRIA was established in May 2024 to lead the implementation of NSW Health’s $2 billion Single Digital Patient Record program, which will introduce a statewide Epic electronic medical record across the state’s public health system.