NHS.net Connect
NHS.net Connect (formerly NHSmail) is the national platform for NHS email, communication and collaboration. It provides staff with secure access to email, chat, online meetings, file sharing and more helping teams work together more easily, whether they are in the same organisation or across different parts of the NHS. NHS.net Connect builds on NHS.net but introduces new tools and services to give organisations greater flexibility, control and support.
About this service
Core Services included in NHS.net Connect (centrally funded)
All organisations using NHS.net Connect have access to:
- Email – NHS email and calendar using Outlook
- Microsoft Teams – for chats, calls, video meetings and online collaboration
- Secure file storage and sharing using SharePoint and OneDrive
- Microsoft applications – access to tools like Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote
- Guest access – ability to invite approved external partners to collaborate
- NHS Directory -search for NHS colleagues by name, role or organisation
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) provides extra protection when signing in
- Access for any device with secure access on a computer, tablet or mobile phone
Organisations can choose to add extra services depending on their local needs – including:
- Larger mailboxes
- Additional Microsoft 365 apps
- Advanced security tools
- Guess Access Management
Licences for these services can be purchased locally. Full details are available in the NHS.net Connect Licence matrix.
Who this service is for
Anyone who works for the NHS can use can use NHS.net Connect, if their organisation has been approved to use the service.
This includes:
- GPs
- doctors
- nurses
- midwives
- other clinical staff
- administrative and support staff
- social care workers
- pharmacists
- dentists
- NHS England delivery partners such as IT consultancies
Benefits
- work easily with colleagues across NHS organisations
- secure access to email, files and tools from any device
- consistent tools and experience, wherever you work
- greater flexibility and control for local administrators
- built-in NHS-wide security standards
- help and support available through local and national teams
National usage policy
This service is not mandated but it is strongly recommended for all NHS organisations in England.
Examples of use
NHS.net Connect is used for a variety of purposes, including:
- sending and receiving patient records and other confidential information
- communicating with patients about their care
- sharing information with other healthcare professionals and staff
- collaborating on projects
For more information, visit support.nhs.net
How this service works
For further information on how this service works, see About NHS.net Connect.
Status, service level and current usage
This service has been live since 2004 (previously named NHS.net).
Over 1.7m healthcare professionals and staff across the NHS use NHS.net Connect to communicate with each other and with patients, safely and securely.
NHS.net Connect is a gold service, meaning it is available and supported 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
How to access this service
The Access policy defines who is entitled to a Department of Health and Social Care funded NHS.net Connect email account and explains how to apply.
Contact us
|
Enquiry |
Point of contact |
|---|---|
| NHS.net Connect queries |
NHS.net Connect helpdesk Email: [email protected] Telephone: 0333 200 1133 |
| Account unlocking and password resets |
Passwords and unlocks - NHS.net Connect Support or your local administrator |
| Escalations |
Email : NHS.net Connect support |
Further information
Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
MFA helps protect users by making it harder for someone else to sign in to their NHS.net Connect account. Information for NHS organisations, local administrators and NHS.net Connect users is available on the NHS.net Connect MFA support page.
NHS.net Connect service status
Up-to-date information on the status of NHS.net Connect services and any key known issues affecting users.
Access training and guidance materials for NHSmail.
Emails sent to and from health and social care organisations must meet the secure email standard (DCB1596) so that everyone can be sure that sensitive and confidential information is kept secure.
NHS.net Connect used by NHS England: GDPR information
Why and how we process your data within NHSmail, and your rights.
Last edited: 24 June 2025 11:42 am