The NHS has reached a significant milestone in its long-term digital transformation programme, with new analysis showing that almost every acute hospital trust in England has now either implemented an electronic patient record (EPR) system or committed to procuring one.
Research by Future Health Intelligence found that by March 2026, only two NHS trusts had yet to install or formally agree to procure an EPR system. The findings highlight the rapid pace of digital adoption over the past three years, driven by national funding and government targets to modernise frontline healthcare.
Electronic patient records provide clinicians with secure, real-time access to patient information, replacing paper-based records and disconnected IT systems. They are widely regarded as the foundation for more integrated care, enabling safer prescribing, faster clinical decision-making, improved coordination between healthcare teams and better use of patient data.
According to the report, procurement activity has accelerated considerably since the government announced its ambition for the vast majority of hospitals to have an EPR in place. While US-based supplier Epic and UK firm Nervecentre secured the largest number of new contracts over the past three years, the analysis suggests that a broad range of suppliers continue to compete successfully across the NHS market.
The report also identifies the largest recent procurement as a £222 million shared EPR contract awarded by four NHS trusts across Somerset and Dorset to Epic.
Despite the progress, experts caution that implementing an EPR is only the first stage of digital transformation. Hospitals must now focus on successful deployment, staff training, system integration and using digital data more effectively to improve patient care and operational efficiency.
With electronic patient records now becoming almost universal across England's acute hospitals, the NHS is entering a new phase in which digital technologies, interoperability and artificial intelligence are expected to play an increasingly important role in improving healthcare delivery.
