Acacia health records system: NT Government’s flagship $259m project gets the wobbles

NT Health has denied a decision has been made to suspend the use of its flagship health records system, Acacia, in two emergency departments, despite an internal email reportedly suggesting otherwise.

NT Health has denied a decision has already been made to suspend the use of the $259m Acacia health records system within the emergency departments of the Royal Darwin Hospital (pictured) and Palmerston Regional Hospital. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

NT Health claims a final decision is yet to be made on whether its new $259m integrated electronic health records system will be suspended in two emergency departments (EDs), despite an internal email reportedly suggesting otherwise.

The system, Acacia, which replaces six legacy clinical systems and integrates a dozen more into a single digital ecosystem – compiling medical history, results and treatment for patients for clinicians to access at the point-of-care, has been steadily expanding since it was first rolled out in late 2020.

It is now in use at Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH), Palmerston Regional Hospital (PRH), Katherine and Gove district hospitals, and Top End Renal Services.

However, kinks within the new system, especially as it relates to fast-paced and time-critical emergency departments, has caused deep concern within the Darwin and Palmerston EDs, where Acacia has been in place since November 11, 2023.

According to an ABC News report on Friday, which cited a recent email from management at the two hospitals, a decision had been made to suspend Acacia’s use within the two EDs for about six months in order to iron out the creases.

NT AMA President Dr Robert Parker

The two EDs would revert back to using a previous health records system, the report said.

In a statement provided to the NT News, a spokeswoman for NT Health claimed that a final decision on Acacia’s suspension in the two EDs had yet to be made.

“Further system improvements to Acacia have been identified based on advice from users from across the hospitals, mostly from within the emergency department,” the spokeswoman said.

Health Minister Selena Uibo. Picture: Glenn Campbell

“Some improvements have already been implemented.

“However, to perform some system improvements for the emergency departments, temporarily reverting to the use of the previous system within one department of RDH and PRH is being considered.

“Should this occur, the emergency departments at RDH and PRH would temporarily revert to the older system as a temporary measure while further improvements are undertaken to the Acacia system.

“The Acacia system continues to be used across all the other parts of RDH and PRH. The system will also continue to be in use in Katherine Hospital and Gove Hospital.”

The spokeswoman assured Territorians that patient safety had not been compromised by the failings of Acacia in the two EDs.

“There are no reasons for patients to be concerned about their care in the emergency department, as the prior system is fit for purpose,” she said.

“There are aspects of the system within the area of emergency medicine that have been identified for improvement to enhance functionality.

“A thorough clinical safety assessment will be undertaken to ensure patient safety while the improvements are undertaken.”

Health Minister Selena Uibo told 9 News Darwin on Wednesday that feedback from health staff about Acacia had “very much been taken on board”.

“There were meetings this week, there’ll be meetings that continue about what actions can be implemented to further improve the system,” she said.

President of the Australian Medical Association Northern Territory, Dr Robert Parker, said Acacia was a “massive investment for the government, so it has to work”.

Originally published as Acacia health records system: NT Government’s flagship $259m project gets the wobbles