NSW Health scales back digital patient record rollout and announces new health hub

New South Wales health authorities have adjusted the rollout schedule for the $2 billion Single Digital Patient Record (SDPR) project. Originally planned for a simultaneous launch across four health districts in November, the implementation has been scaled back because senior executives determined the transition would be ‘too much for the system to bear’.

Under the revised plan, Northern Beaches Hospital will be the only Tranche B site to proceed with the Epic electronic medical record integration in November. Other districts, including Northern Sydney, Central Coast, Mid North Coast, and Northern NSW, face delays. Due to existing system architectures, certain districts must be implemented in pairs; for instance, Northern Sydney and Central Coast share an electronic medical record platform and must go live together. Northern Sydney has indicated a preference for a March 2027 rollout.

In a separate initiative to alleviate pressure on emergency departments, the NSW government has announced plans for an Integrated Health Hub in Wilton, southwest Sydney. The hub is intended to provide non-acute services, including primary, preventative, and early intervention care, to reduce the burden on hospital systems. Health Minister Ryan Park stated that the investment aims to complement hospital bed expansion by providing more accessible community-based care.