The digitisation covers over 750,000 patient records and is expected to contribute approximately £2m in annual savings, including the elimination of approximately £30,000 a month in off-site storage costs and the release of valuable estate space.

Josh Chandler, chief digital information officer, Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: ‘This is a significant milestone for the trust. We have moved from medical records libraries filled with paper to giving our teams immediate electronic access to patient information. Clinicians no longer need to chase paper notes and multiple staff can access the same record at the same time. For those of us involved from the beginning, it's particularly rewarding to have seen this transformation from start to finish. It's a major achievement for everyone who has played a part.'

Ian Martin, general manager UK & Ireland Public Sector, Xerox UK, said: ‘This programme shows what's possible when an organisation commits to long-term digital transformation.

‘We worked alongside Bedford Hospital's records team through a pandemic to get this programme live and the trust has stayed the course ever since. Historical scanning is done, now our focus shifts to day-forward, keeping the trust's records digital from the point they're created.'