The National Health Service could face costs of up to £13.5 million next year to repair data errors linked to electronic patient record (EPR) system transitions, according to new analysis from healthcare data specialists MBI Health.
The warning comes as at least nine NHS acute trusts across England prepare to undergo major EPR migrations in 2026 as part of the health service’s wider digital transformation strategy.
Experts say many of the expected remediation costs are avoidable and stem from poor planning, weak data governance and insufficient involvement of specialist data teams during system implementation.
The findings have renewed concerns about patient safety, treatment delays and operational disruption as NHS trusts increasingly rely on digital healthcare systems to manage records, waiting lists and clinical care.
EPR Data Errors Could Create Major Financial Burden
According to MBI Health’s projections, correcting post-go-live data issues following EPR system changes could cost the NHS around £13.5 million in 2026 alone.
The estimate is based on patterns seen during previous EPR transitions at NHS trusts where major digital upgrades resulted in duplicated records, incomplete patient data and incorrect migrations between systems.
Healthcare analysts warned that many trusts underestimate the scale of post-implementation problems until systems are already operational.
The cost of fixing those issues often includes extensive manual data checks, additional staffing pressures, system optimisation work and efforts to rebuild damaged patient tracking systems.
Industry experts argue that earlier involvement from data and analytics professionals could significantly reduce those risks.
NHS Data Leaders Warn of Systemic Problems
Marc Farr said data experts are frequently brought into EPR projects too late, after key technical and operational decisions have already been made.
Farr warned that successful NHS digital transformation depends on embedding data and analytics leadership into planning and implementation processes from the outset.
He stressed that without stronger oversight, trusts risk introducing avoidable operational problems that directly affect patient care and hospital performance.
The warning comes as the NHS continues accelerating digital modernisation programmes aimed at replacing outdated paper-based and legacy systems with integrated electronic healthcare platforms.
Patient Tracking Lists Among Biggest Risks
One of the most serious operational concerns linked to EPR transitions involves disruption to Patient Tracking Lists (PTLs), which are used to monitor patient waiting times and treatment pathways.
If records are duplicated, incomplete or incorrectly migrated, hospitals can lose visibility over which patients require urgent treatment or follow-up appointments.
According to MBI Health’s analysis, Patient Tracking Lists often increase by approximately 25% after major EPR systems go live.
The increase may not reflect genuine growth in patient demand but rather administrative and technical errors caused by faulty data migration.
Specialists say those disruptions can severely impact Referral to Treatment (RTT) performance targets, making it harder for NHS trusts to reduce waiting lists and recover elective care services.
Concerns Over Patient Safety During Digital Rollouts
A recent national review highlighted how problems with EPR implementation can contribute to delayed, missed or incorrect patient care.
The review identified issues including poor usability, inconsistent terminology, inadequate staff training, weak governance and missing safety functions across some systems.
One particularly serious case involved a four-year-old girl who reportedly received five incorrect doses of blood-thinning medication after an electronic prescribing and medicines administration (ePMA) system failed to flag a dosing error.
The incident resulted in bleeding around the child’s brain and raised wider concerns about digital patient safety safeguards.
Healthcare professionals say such cases demonstrate the importance of rigorous testing, oversight and frontline staff involvement before new systems are fully deployed.
NHS Staff Under Increasing Pressure
Post-implementation challenges are also placing additional strain on NHS staff already facing workforce shortages and rising patient demand.
When EPR systems experience errors or inconsistencies, hospital staff are often forced to manually verify records, correct patient information and compensate for system failures.
Healthcare leaders warn this creates a significant administrative burden that diverts clinicians and operational teams away from direct patient care.
In some cases, trusts have had to dedicate specialist teams solely to identifying and resolving migration-related issues after system launches.
The NHS has spent billions of pounds over recent years modernising digital infrastructure, but experts argue that insufficient preparation continues to undermine many large-scale technology projects.
NHS Digital Transformation Continues Across England
Electronic Patient Record systems are central to the NHS’s long-term strategy to modernise healthcare delivery and improve efficiency across hospitals and clinics.
EPR systems allow clinicians to access patient histories, prescriptions, diagnostic results and treatment plans digitally, replacing fragmented paper records and disconnected databases.
Supporters argue the technology can improve coordination of care, reduce duplication and speed up clinical decision-making.
However, major EPR implementations are often complex and expensive, particularly when migrating decades of patient information between systems.
Several NHS trusts have already experienced operational disruption following major digital upgrades in recent years, including appointment backlogs, delayed treatments and difficulties accessing patient records.
Waiting List Pressures Add Urgency
The concerns come at a time when the NHS remains under intense pressure to reduce record waiting lists following years of pandemic disruption and staffing shortages.
Patient Tracking Lists and Referral to Treatment systems are considered essential tools in helping hospitals prioritise care and monitor performance targets.
Experts warn that data quality problems within EPR systems could make it harder for the NHS to tackle treatment delays and improve patient outcomes.
The NHS in England has faced growing scrutiny over long waiting times for elective procedures, cancer care and diagnostic services.
Digital transformation has been presented by ministers and NHS leaders as a key part of improving productivity and streamlining patient management.
However, analysts caution that poorly managed system transitions risk creating new operational problems instead of solving existing ones.
Calls for Better Governance and Planning
Healthcare data specialists are now calling for stronger governance frameworks, earlier testing procedures and greater involvement from frontline clinical staff during EPR rollouts.
Many experts believe hospitals need more comprehensive data assurance processes before systems go live to reduce the risk of corruption, duplication or loss of patient records.
There are also growing calls for NHS trusts to improve staff training and provide additional technical support during major system transitions.
While digital healthcare technology is expected to remain a central pillar of NHS reform, experts say the success of future projects will depend heavily on planning, oversight and data quality management.
Without those safeguards, analysts warn the NHS could face rising remediation costs, mounting operational pressures and increased risks to patient safety.