Meanwhile speculation continues that the 11 November rollout of tranche B of the SDPR will be either postponed or reduced in scope.
With less than 100 days until the go-live date for the next stage of the rollout of NSW’s single digital patient record across four local health districts, the CEO of the authority delivering the program is missing in action.
Dr Teresa Anderson, who has faced controversy in recent months for an allegedly “toxic” workplace culture at the Single Digital Patient Record Implementation Authority, took what one insider told HSD was “unexpected” leave this week.
The SDPRIA was the subject of a psychosocial review conducted by HealthShare NSW which found that 84% of participating workers were categorised as “struggling or unwell”, with just 5% classified as “thriving”.
The review followed concerns raised by the Health Services Union on behalf of its members, with the SDPRIA later requesting HealthShare NSW undertake the review.
Late this afternoon a statement from the SDPRIA confirmed that Dr Anderson will also be taking four weeks’ annual leave from 18 August — “returning to her role on 15 September” — despite the fact the biggest tranche of the SDPR rollout so far is just 98 days away.
According to HSD sources, pressure is ramping up with several senior executives at the SDPRIA coming in to help workers deal with a backlog of issues still being resolved following the rollout of the Epic electronic medical record at Hunter New England LHD back in late May.
As late as 22 July, over 3500 tickets from HNE LHD to the SDPRIA technical teams remained open.
HSD understands the Tranche B rollout – involving Northern NSW LHD, Mid North Coast LHD, Northern Sydney LHD, Central Coast LHD, and LIMS North – is scheduled to go live on 11 November.
However, it is believed that the HSU and workers within the SDPRIA are lobbying to get the go-live delayed. What seems more likely is that only one LHD will go live in November with the rest postponed to a later date, perhaps even early in 2027.
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When asked last month if they still had confidence in Dr Anderson’s leadership of the SDPRIA, senior officials at NSW Health, eHealth NSW and the Ministry of Health did not respond, suggesting at the very least an unwillingness to commit one way or another.
One staff member, speaking on condition of anonymity, told HSD at the time that:
“It’s clear the problem comes from the top and permeates through the layers of management and to their teams.”
Dr Anderson was previously the CEO of Sydney LHD, where her tenure ended in some controversy. On 29 June 2023, the Concord Repatriation General Hospital Medical Staff Council held a vote of no confidence in Dr Anderson. That motion passed by 109 votes to 73.
That vote was in response to accusations by Concord staff of widespread under-resourcing, a culture of fear silencing hospital staff members, and mandatory training established simply to achieve “minimum standards”.
According to an SDPRIA insider, the psychosocial review has the senior management “scrambling” to comply with some recommendations. However, the pressure on staff to continue preparing for the 11 November rollout has continued unabated, they said.
HSD also asked the SDPRIA the following questions, none of which it responded to:
- Who is acting CEO in Dr Anderson’s absence?
- Can you confirm that senior executives are being seconded in to help clear up the backlog of issues still being dealt with in the HNELHD rollout?
- Can you confirm that the rollout of tranche B — originally scheduled for 11 November — has been delayed?
- What is the new go-live date?
Updated: 8pm Friday 7 August 2026.