Health staff slam digital scoping woe

A FORMER health worker claims a lack of project scope has led to problems with the rollout of a multimillion-dollar software program in the Far North.

The Regional eHealth Project, a digital records program planned for the region’s rural and remote health facilities, was due to be completed last month.

But Queensland Health says the $35 million project has stalled due to “technical issues.”

The State Government is now choosing a new vendor for the program.

A former project member, who did not want to be named, told the Cairns Post that problems with the program emerged soon after it was launched in April 2017.

“There was a group of us who had come from the private sector into government, with significant experience between us and plenty of knowledge of best practice,” they said.

“This was ignored for what the project director and project manager thought should happen. There was no understanding of what our roles should be achieving.

“So they spent 3-4 months working on something, only to have it thrown out and discarded.”

The Queensland Government secured the original grant for Regional eHealth from the Federal Government in 2012, to build an electronic medical records program that could be used in primary care, community and hospital settings from Torres Strait to the Cassowary Coast.

But the former project member said there was never clarity of scope for the project.

“We were never given full details as to which facilities would be getting it, even though we were on the team and being asked constantly,” they said.

A Queensland Health spokeswoman said independent assurance reviews occurred on a regular basis throughout the Regional eHealth Project.

“We remain confident the project can be delivered within or close to budget,” she said.