WA Health replaces CIO

Western Australia’s Department of Health has installed another acting executive to head its extensive IT operations.

Bill Leonard has taken over the role of acting CIO at the 40,000-strong organisation.

He replaces Dr Andy Roberson, who had filled in for the past 12 months but has now stepped down to return to his “substantive role” as deputy chief health officer and director of disaster management, regulation and planning.

A spokesman for the department declined to comment on why a permanent appointment had yet to be made.

The last long-term CIO at the department was Alan Piper, who now works as a private consultant on contact management and IT matters. Piper left the organisation late in 2012.

Health IT has been a controversial topic in West Australian politics in previous years, as the government and opposition try to lay blame over the failure to open a “paperless” Fiona Stanley Hospital on time on an incomplete IT fit out.

The $2 billion facility is set to commence operations in October, six months later than forecast.

Under Robertson’s guidance, the department was also forced to cut its IT budget by $77 million in 2012-13 as part of a state-wide savings drive.