NHS Still Spending £240 Million a Year on Paper Records

The NHS in England continues to spend almost £240 million each year storing paper patient records, despite years of investment in digital healthcare systems, according to new analysis by The King’s Fund. The think tank found that the health service spent £239.5 million on paper record storage during 2024/25.

The report found that while most NHS trusts now use a combination of electronic and paper records, 209 NHS sites remain entirely paper-based and only five NHS trusts have fully digitised patient records. Many organisations continue to rely on off-site storage for paper files, adding significantly to annual costs.

Successive governments have pledged to make the NHS paperless, but those targets have not been achieved. Under the NHS 10-Year Health Plan, a single electronic patient record is due to begin rolling out from 2028, allowing authorised clinicians to securely access a patient’s medical history across different NHS services.

The King’s Fund said reducing reliance on paper records could improve efficiency, reduce the risk of missing or inaccurate information, and help deliver more joined-up care for patients.

Stay informed with the stories shaping health and social care.