Nine Years and $320 Million Later, a Failed Digital Transformation for Northern Territory Health

The Acacia project, conceived as a revolutionary IT system for Northern Territory Health, aimed to integrate multiple patient record systems into a single framework, thus enhancing efficiency for clinicians. Originally launched by the Country Liberal Party (CLP) government in 2016, it promised to provide healthcare professionals with quicker access to comprehensive patient information. However, almost a decade later, and with an expenditure exceeding $300 million, the first stage of this ambitious project remains incomplete, particularly struggling at the Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH).

Scheduled to go live at RDH in 2023, the failed implementation raised significant alarms among clinicians, who viewed Acacia as a severe danger to patient safety. Consequently, they successfully insisted on reverting to an archaic system from 1991, which one insider wittily described as making "Windows 3.1 look fancy." It acknowledges the project's rocky trajectory, especially as it was originally championed by a government that would soon leave office, with the follow-up Labor administration escalating the budget considerably.

While the Labor government claimed to be on track for completion by late 2021, internal dynamics between health and digital development agencies were strained. An insider revealed a poor working relationship between the Department of Health and the Department of Corporate and Digital Development (DCDD), leading to confusion over health requirements and ultimately resulting in the mishandling of sensitive patient data.

Staff feedback during training highlighted Acacia's inadequacies, particularly its inability to track patients within emergency departments effectively. As problems compounded, concerns grew that patient care was being jeopardized. Despite obvious red flags, the rollout proceeded, first at smaller sites before arriving at RDH, where issues were markedly exacerbated due to the hospital's larger scale.

The dissatisfaction among emergency staff reached its peak at RDH, where they expressed fears about inadequate patient care. As pressure mounted, the government allocated additional funds to address ongoing issues with Acacia. However, the project remains incomplete and faces skepticism from health professionals regarding its viability and future funding for subsequent phases.

Discussion around the project's long-term sustainability continues, with health experts urging the government to consider other software options instead of persisting with Acacia. As the situation stands, a significant portion of the budget remains, yet questions linger regarding the timeline for completion and the potential for a comprehensive solution to the systemic problems it aimed to resolve.