How 'digital' NHS spends £240million each year... on paper records

Published: 00:01, 5 August 2026 | Updated: 00:01, 5 August 2026 The NHS spends £240million a year storing records in boxes and filing cabinets as hundreds of sites remain entirely reliant on paper. Only five NHS trusts in England have fully digitised patient records, despite Government pledges to make the NHS paperless, the King's Fund found. There are still 209 NHS sites – such as diagnostic centres or clinics – that use only paper records, according to the think-tank's analysis of medical records data. Most NHS hospitals use a combination of digital and paper records to keep hold of information including appointment notes, letters and scan results.  But the vast majority do not have enough space on site to store paper files, meaning they have to rent storage units or buildings at taxpayers' expense. The NHS spent £239.5million storing patient records in 2024-25, including stationery fees for boxes, folders and filing cabinets.  Sarah Woolnough, head of the King's Fund, said the cost of storing paper records was an example of 'NHS waste' that had to be tackled. There have been many attempts to get rid of paper records, which increase the risk of errors and poor communication.  The NHS spends £240million a year storing records in boxes and filing cabinets as hundreds of sites remain entirely reliant on paper Jeremy Hunt, the then Conservative Health Secretary, said in 2013 that the NHS should be 'paperless by 2018'. And the NHS promised to be 'paper-free at the point of care' by 2020. The Government's ten-year health plan, published last year, outlined how the NHS would move 'from analogue to digital', with a 'single patient record' from 2028 to replace paper systems. This will store all medical information in one place on the NHS App and allow doctors and nurses to see the medical history of any patient who attends an A&E unit or hospital anywhere in the UK. Ms Woolnough told The Times: 'We have got to spend people's money wisely and use every penny to deliver the best care. This is a flagrant example of money being spent where it doesn't need to be. 'The NHS has had a commitment to being a paperless institution for many years, so the fact that you've still got 200 sites completely reliant on paper is disappointing and frustrating. It feels antiquated.' She said paper records meant 'things can get lost and there can be inaccuracies' that could affect patient care. The NHS receives thousands of complaints a year relating to communication failures and record-keeping problems. Research by Healthwatch shows that nearly one in four adults report inaccuracies or missing details in their medical records. The King's Fund said the findings highlighted the importance of implementing a single patient record, which MPs will debate next month as part of a health bill going through Parliament. Ms Woolnough said: 'Patients should not have to repeatedly tell their story as they move through the system, and staff should be able to access the information they need to provide timely and effective care.'  The NHS has been approached for comment