The research from Apogee found routine inefficiencies across NHS organisations are significantly reducing frontline capacity; in direct conflict with the 10-Year Health Plan for England's 2% year-on-year productivity increase target.

James Clark, chief executive at Apogee, said: ‘We often talk about productivity in the NHS in terms of large-scale transformation programmes, but our research shows that a significant amount of time is still being lost in the small, everyday moments of friction that happen thousands of times a day.'

Using Freedom of Information responses from NHS trusts across the UK, the report found staff lost an average of eight minutes per day due to delays in accessing systems, moving information and communicating with patients.

The report argued improving productivity depends less on introducing new technology and more on ensuring existing systems support effective workflows and experiences. Trusts that take a more integrated approach, connecting devices, information, and communication, are already seeing measurable gains in efficiency and patient flow, it found.

The report found reducing everyday friction by 25% could return approximately £250m in staff time to frontline services each year.