EPAS electronic patient records rollout faces problems at new RAH, Auditor-General says
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The set-up of electronic patient records for the new Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH) is facing significant problems, Auditor-General Simon O'Neill has told a Parliamentary committee.
The system, which is expected to replace paper records, is costing $422 million to install across South Australia's public hospitals.
Mr O'Neill is reviewing the EPAS rollout, which has faced delays and cost blowouts.
He told state parliament's budget and finance committee it might not be ready in time for the new RAH's opening in the middle of 2017.
"We've got great problems, I don't mind saying that that's what I've got here," he said.
"The delay presents a heightened risk that it will not be fully ready for the Royal Adelaide and I don't mind saying that.
"I didn't have to include that comment but I have included that comment because there is a real risk, there is a real issue and problem with respect to this."
The South Australian Government said it would push ahead with the EPAS implementation.
But Opposition frontbencher Rob Lucas said the Auditor-General's public comments were alarming.
"When he says a project has got significant problems or major problems, as he did, that is a very significant warning sign to the people of South Australia," he said.
"[Health] Minister [Jack] Snelling and [Premier] Mr Weatherill at some stage are going to have to front up and explain exactly what they're going to do and what the costs are going to be to taxpayers if they're going to try and continue this problem, and fix it."
Topics: health-policy, state-parliament, parliament, states-and-territories, government-and-politics, adelaide-5000, sa
