An ‘arm’s length’ psychosocial review is underway into the workplace culture and practices at the Single Digital Patient Record Implementation Authority. The HSU is expecting ‘significant’ recommendations.
The workplace culture and practices at the Single Digital Patient Record Implementation Authority are so toxic, another NSW Health agency has been called in to do an “arm’s length psychosocial review”.
And, according to a Health Services Union spokesperson, speaking exclusively to HSD, the union is expecting “significant” recommendations to come imminently.
“Their implementation will be swift,” the union has promised.
None of this will come as a surprise to the workers at the SDPRIA, or to readers of HSD. We’ve been saying it for months – here, here, here, here and here.
We’ve heard again recently that the culture at SDPRIA – led by CEO and former boss of the Sydney LHD, Dr Teresa Anderson – remains a nightmare of under-resourcing, overworking, bullying, intimidation, executive arrogance and incompetence, and fear.
You will recall, no doubt, that Dr Anderson’s tenure at Sydney LHD 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”.
Things at the SDPRIA have now deteriorated to the point that staff on the ground don’t know who to trust because some of their colleagues are now snitching to management rather than risk being targeted themselves.
We’ve heard of at least one potential suicide – an SDPRIA worker who feels that unless conditions for them improve, life isn’t worth living.
We’ve heard that even now – almost two months after the second stage of Tranche A of the Epic rollout went live at Hunter New England LHD – over 400 outstanding service tickets remain open. Incredibly, the stretched and stressed SDPRIA workforce has managed to resolve over 1000 others.
We understand that almost 10,000 service tickets have been logged for Hunter New England alone.
Those are not signs of a rollout that was well planned, well resourced or well managed.
We have heard that on the day of the Justice Health Forensic Mental Health Network go-live in late March, Ms Anderson and her middle managers insisted on every SDPRIA worker being in the office in Chatswood. That meant workers trying to service the rollout were sitting on the floor and sharing desks because there wasn’t enough space or computers.
We’ve heard that staff have been forced to sign non-disclosure agreements, that they have been actively encouraged not to escalate issues because there are no clear directions for work activities, and because senior management is concerned about the possible involvement of the Fair Work Commission.
Staff turnover due to burnout is huge, and for those who are left, workloads are simply piled on top of their own. On-call overnight shifts are mandatory, leave is being cancelled.
And yet, despite all this, the staff are continuing to do what they have to do – including putting up with abuse from frustrated clinicians in Hunter New England – to keep workflows running, for the betterment of patients in the region.
The statement from the Health Services Union made it clear that union officials are convinced SDPRIA staff are brave to the point of heroism.
“Members at the Single Digital Patient Record Implementation Authority have banded together to improve the culture and ensure a safer workplace in response to significant concerns about workplace culture including understaffing, workload intensification, and unsafe workplace behaviours,” said the HSU statement to HSD.
It is “through their mobilisation and agitation” that the review was able to be secured, it said.
Related
HealthShare NSW is conducting the psychosocial review. Yes, it’s another NSW Health agency, so not totally independent, but at least it is separate from the SDPRIA.
The bottom line is, this cannot go on.
The SDPRIA has a huge amount of work to do. Tranche B of the $2 billion Epic rollout is currently scheduled for November 2026 at Northern NSW LHD, Mid North Coast LHD, Northern Sydney LHD, Central Coast LHD and LIMS North.
No matter the overwhelming silence from the SDPRIA, eHealth NSW and its CEO Richard Taggart, and NSW Health itself and its secretary Susan Pearce, about the workplace culture overseen by Dr Anderson, the staff will prevail.
By the way, Ms Pearce and Dr Anderson are long-time colleagues, and we hear, friends.
LHD CEOs – including Dr Anderson when at Sydney LHD – report to Ms Pearce. They worked closely together during covid.
The public record shows they were both involved in the senior leadership response.
For example, during parliamentary evidence on the covid vaccination rollout, then-Premier Gladys Berejiklian specifically referred to Susan Pearce and Teresa Anderson both being involved in discussions about establishing NSW’s mass vaccination hubs.
Ms Pearce has also publicly praised Dr Anderson and Sydney LHD’s performance during COVID, saying:
“I owe a debt of gratitude to Teresa … What an amazing team. Can-do. Got things done. Just an extraordinary effort.”
Susan Pearce signed off on Dr Anderson’s move to the SDPRIA in 2024. That announcement to staff came jointly from her and John Ajaka, chair of the Sydney LHD Board.
We’re not implying anything other than a long professional relationship between the two, and ultimately Ms Pearce is the boss of the wash. If the SDPRIA has some consequences to deal with as a result of the psychosocial review, in the end the buck will stop with her.
Watch this space.