The Networks and Connectivity Programme, part of the NHS England Frontline Capabilities portfolio, builds on 3 years NHS England of support and investment in NHS fixed line connectivity (under the Future Connectivity Programme, closed March 2025) and supports ongoing NHS Network digital transformation efforts.
Programme Overview
The programme’s objective is to ensure NHS organisations have resilient and efficient networks, including the required level of fixed and wireless connectivity for all staff and across all sites where digital tools are required to deliver healthcare, including a Connectivity Centre of Excellence. This work will provide the critical underlying infrastructure to support and enable the digital transformation goals of the NHS 10-Year Plan.
The programme is currently carrying out discovery work on the viability of solutions to help address the problem statements below.
We are planning an introductory webinar, followed-up by an in-person workshop at techUK offices with a select audience.
The webinar will be an opportunity for the NHS England team to introduce their programme, details of planned work over the next 3 years and outline two key problem statements for industry to address during the art-of-the-possible workshop.
There will be time during the webinar for questions and feedback on the problem statements, which will be considered prior to the in-person workshop.
At this stage, there is no anticipated central procurement to underpin a national product or solution. However, industry input and expertise are sought to inform our decisions and for consideration in best practice guidance for local NHS organisations. NHS England’s role will include sharing learnings from industry and making NHS organisations aware of viable solutions, technologies and services which can help address the problem areas.
Problem statements
Attendees should review the below problem statements in advance of the webinar and come prepared with ideas, solutions, services or recommendations to the problem statements or how NHS England may approach the challenge.
Question one: NHS Staff work in a range of domestic settings, including patients’ homes. How can industry ensure that the required connectivity is available to staff in domestic settings?
Background
Access to connectivity is critical for NHS staff delivering care, both on the NHS estate and across the community. For NHS workers in the community, such as community nurses, midwives, GPs on home visits and ambulance staff, connectivity is required:
to access and update real-time patients records on Electronic Patient Record and associated systems to ensure the correct advice, care and medicines are delivered
to conduct remote video consultations with other NHS Staff, where expert advice is needed to agree priority and potential critical referral
for staff safety & security
To achieve government missions of moving care from Hospital to Community and Analogue to Digital, we need to equip NHS staff with seamless, reliable and real-time connectivity for their devices.
Supporting information:
solutions and technologies should be commercially available now or in the near future,
most NHS staff use mobile devices (phone/tablet/laptop) equipped with SIM cards,
Domestic care settings includes both private homes and care homes,
there are often local policies, time constraints and security concerns that prevent staff requesting access to patient’s home Wi-Fi,
staff experience and feedback demonstrate indoor 4G and 5G cellular coverage is far from universal and is often insufficient inside buildings.
Question 2: As NHS primary care sites increasingly move to fibre-based connectivity, what options are available to provide cost effective and robust connectivity resilience for these sites.
NHS GP and community-based sites have recently moved to Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) solutions from their previous copper services to meet the increased demand from digital services, such as cloud-based telephony. Connectivity requirements of these sites will continue to increase to meet the objectives of the NHS 10 Year Health Plan.
What resilience options are available now and in the near future to address these requirements?
Supporting information:
We will consider all connectivity solutions able to meet requirements,
We recognise that a small period of downtime may be inevitable for some solutions,
Assume a bandwidth requirement of 50-100Mbps per site,
Solutions should be targeted at smaller sites as larger sites, such as hospitals, are likely to have multiple, diverse links due to the nature of the 24hr, critical services they provide,
Resilience must support both public internet and private network connectivity.
Robert Walker
Head of Health & Social Care, techUK
Robert Walker
Head of Health & Social Care, techUK
Robert joined techUK in October 2022, where he is now Programme Manager for Health and Social Care.
Robert previously worked at the Pension Protection Fund, within the policy and public affairs team. Prior to this, he worked at the Scottish Parliament, advising politicians and industry stakeholders on a wide range of issues, including rural crime and health policies.
Robert has a degree in Politics and International Relations (MA Hons) from the University of Aberdeen, with a particular focus on strategic studies and energy security. Outside of work he enjoys activities such as running, rugby, boxing and cooking!
Rachel joined techUK in December 2024, as a Programme Manager in the Health and Social Care team.
Prior to this, Rachel worked at a specialist health and social care public affairs agency, working with a range of organisations and trade bodies across the medical technology, pharmaceutical, digital health and social care sectors. As well as this, Rachel was part of the Secretariat for a number of health and care related All-Party Parliamentary Groups.
Rachel has a Masters in Global Governance and Diplomacy from the University of Leeds, as well as a first-class honours in Politics BA from Newcastle University.
Lewis Stewart
Programme Manager ‑ Health and Social Care, techUK
Lewis Stewart
Programme Manager ‑ Health and Social Care, techUK
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.
Before joining techUK, Lewis supported a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons, where he led on constituency engagement and produced evidence-based research to inform debates, committee work, and policy advocacy. He has also helped shape youth wellbeing policy through the Youth Sport Trust, collaborating with government, education, and grassroots networks to drive impact.
Lewis has played key roles in health tech and mobility startups, helping to bring innovative solutions to market and improve user experience in complex systems. With a degree in Biochemistry and Pharmacology, he combines analytical thinking with a passion for evidence-led, people-centred change.
Junior Programme Manager, Health and Care Team, techUK
Viola Pastorino
Junior Programme Manager, Health and Care Team, techUK
Viola Pastorino is a policy, governance, and strategic communication specialist.
She joined techUK as the Junior Programme Manager in the Health and Care Team in April 2024.
She has obtained a Bachelor of Sciences in Governance, Economics, and Development from Leiden University, and a Master's programme in Strategic Communications at King's College London. Her academic background, leading up to a dissertation on AI policy influence and hands-on campaign development, is complemented by practical experience in international PR and grassroots project management.
She is skilled in qualitative and quantitative analysis and comfortable communicating findings to varying stakeholders. Above all, she is deeply passionate about the intersection of technology and government, especially how technology and global discourse shape one another, the processes that lead to belief polarisation and radicalisation of communities, and crafting strategic narratives that steer public discourse.
Outside of work she loves reading, live music light operation, and diving.
Francesca Richiusa
Programme Team Assistant for Public Sector Markets, techUK
Francesca Richiusa
Programme Team Assistant for Public Sector Markets, techUK
Fran serves as the Programme Team Assistant within techUK’s Public Sector Market Programmes, where she is responsible for delivering comprehensive team support, managing administrative functions, and fostering strong relationships with members.
Prior to joining techUK in May 2025, Fran built a meaningful career in the charitable and local government sectors. She worked extensively with both victims and perpetrators of crime, and notably led the coordination of Domestic Homicide Reviews across Surrey—an initiative aimed at identifying lessons and preventing future incidents of domestic abuse.
Outside of work, Fran is an avid traveller and a proud cat mum who enjoys unwinding with her feline companions.
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