NHS / techUK networks and connectivity webinar roundup
The session marked the start of deeper collaboration between the telecoms industry and the health sector as the NHS continues to build the robust connectivity needed to deliver on the 10 Year Health Plan for England.
The Plan outlines a shift toward community-based care, digital-first services, and equitable access across geographies. These goals rely on seamless, secure connectivity for video consultations and real-time access to clinical systems wherever care is delivered.
The webinar introduced NHS England’s Networks and Connectivity Programme, which aims to ensure all NHS organisations have resilient and efficient networks and the required level of fixed and wireless connectivity across all sites and into the community. The programme builds on previous investment in NHS infrastructure and enters a new four-year phase focused on discovery, consultation, and delivery.
During 2025—26 NHS England are seeking engagement from industry partners to help identify innovative solutions.
Challenge 1: Connectivity for community-based staff
One key area of discussion was improving connectivity for NHS staff working in community settings, including nurses, midwives, General Practitioners (GPs), and paramedics. As care increasingly shifts out of hospitals and into homes and local clinics, staff require reliable, real-time access to electronic records and clinical systems, as well as tools for remote consultation.
Yet, connectivity in domestic and rural environments remains highly variable. Many clinicians struggle with inconsistent mobile coverage indoors, particularly in hard-to-reach areas. In some cases, staff must travel long distances simply to upload data or access systems, leading to delays and inefficiencies. The industry was asked to consider how existing or emerging technologies, whether mobile, Wi-Fi, or hybrid models, could better support care in these settings.
Challenge 2: Resilience for primary care sites
The second challenge explored network resilience for GP surgeries and community clinics. While many of these sites have moved to fibre broadband to support cloud services and digital communications, they often rely on a single connection. Any outage can severely disrupt patient care.
Currently, only a minority of sites have a reliable backup in place. This has created a growing need for cost-effective failover solutions, such as mobile backup or alternative network routing, to ensure “always-on” connectivity. With primary care central to achieving the aims of the 10 Year Health Plan, ensuring the resilience of local networks is an urgent priority.
Infrastructure standards and investment
NHS England outlined its approach to supporting improved connectivity through a combination of national standards, guidance, and targeted local investment. A major focus is on creating consistent expectations across the system, from unified Wi-Fi and roaming to benchmarks for network resilience, while still allowing local flexibility in implementation.
Rather than mandating specific technologies, NHS England will support NHS providers and other local organisations with packages of funding that can be spent on solutions tailored to meet their needs. Central funding will also be considered for national capabilities or tools that deliver value at scale. This flexible approach aims to balance local autonomy with system-wide alignment.
Looking ahead
The webinar brought together expertise from across healthcare and the telecoms industry. It reinforced the critical role connectivity plays in enabling safe, efficient, and modern care delivery.
The conversation will continue in early 2026 with a follow-up roundtable at techUK’s London offices on 15 January. This in-person session will bring together selected stakeholders and industry to explore solutions in more depth and shape the next phase of work.
Lewis Stewart
Lewis brings a multidisciplinary background spanning health policy, stakeholder engagement, digital innovation, and elite sport. A former Commonwealth Games champion, he draws on the resilience, adaptability, and team-driven mindset gained through years of high-performance competition.
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