The landmark Single Digital Patient Record is one step closer to transforming the way healthcare is delivered in NSW, with training of staff from across NSW Health on the new system underway.
The Single Digital Patient Record is an electronic medical record keeping system that will provide clinicians with access to patient information from a single secure reliable source, and improve patient experience through better continuity of care.
Nearly 200 staff from across NSW's 17 Local Health Districts and Specialty Health Networks have volunteered to support the delivery of SDPR training, representing the start of one of the largest statewide activities we have seen to date.
These staff were orientated on SDPR training today, marking the start of an intensive training process, equipping them to support the first users of SDPR in 2026.
The Single Digital Patient Record will be implemented across the state in five stages, with more than 25,000 healthcare staff across Hunter New England LHD, Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network (Justice Health NSW) and NSW Health Pathology (Hunter New England sites) to be among the first to access, with plans go live in March 2026.
The new system will unify the nine electronic medical records, 10 patient administration systems and five laboratory information management systems currently in use across NSW Health.
Minister for Health Ryan Park met with some of these soon to be newly trained staff at a ceremony today, celebrating their commitment to growing not only their own knowledge, but the knowledge of others through end-user training in 2026.
The Single Digital Patient Record will cover more than 220 public hospitals, more than 150 pathology collection centres, 65 laboratories and approximately 600 community health centres across the state when fully complete in 2028.
Clinicians will have access to holistic real-time patient information and instant access to medical records to allow them to make more informed decisions about their patients care.
The new system will also give patients confidence that their care teams have all the relevant information available to them, no matter which of our public hospitals they attend.
All NSW Health organisations have been involved in the decisions supporting the configuration of the Single Digital Patient Record. Clinicians, patients, carers, consumers, and technical experts are helping to shape how and what it will look and feel like.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Ryan Park:
"Today we are proud to share the next major milestone on the path to the Single Digital Patient Record rollout, made possible due to the dedication and collaborative spirit of staff from across the NSW Health to support the kick off of end-user training in 2026.
"The formal credentialing of these new trainers for the first stage of the roll out is a significant achievement to preparing staff for the Single Digital Patient Record.
"The Minns Labor Government's new Single Digital Patient Record is the biggest healthcare transformation that the state has seen and will change the way healthcare is delivered and received in NSW.
"It will give clinicians access to enhanced analytics, dashboards, reporting functionality and data visualisation tools will also help support patient safety."
Quotes attributable to Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley:
"I'm thrilled Hunter New England Local Health District will be one of the first districts to roll out the Single Digital Patient Record next year, giving our highly skilled clinicians opportunities to improve patient experience.
"Having one statewide system will support consistency and continuity of care. It will give patients confidence that their care teams have all the relevant information available to them, no matter which of our public hospitals they attend."
Quotes attributable to Tracey McCosker Hunter New England Local Health District Chief Executive:
"The Single Digital Patient Record will provide opportunities to free up more time for patient care, create efficiencies in work practices, but also once rolled out provide greater continuity of care for patients wherever they interface with our services across the state.
"The system will provide wonderful opportunities for patients to have better and more timely information about their own health, and greater control over their interactions with our health services. It will also facilitate more flexible access to healthcare for people in rural and regional areas."
