GP Federations in England are eligible to apply for NHS.net Connect.
GP Federations qualifying to join NHS.net Connect will be permitted to create accounts for staff providing patient facing services. Departments or groups such as HR, Finance, Property Services etc will not be eligible to have NHS.net accounts.
If you think your GP Federation qualifies (or if you have any questions about your eligibility to use NHS.net Connect), then please:
- Read and sign the NHSmail Access Process Document
- Submit the completed form via Customer Service Portal – Customer Support.
Key Considerations
NHS.net Connect Standard Service
As a GP Federation you will be given access to the NHS.net Connect Standard Service which covers:
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- Daily Productivity: your day-to-day work is streamlined with familiar and powerful online tools like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. You can create and edit documents, spreadsheets, and presentations seamlessly.
- Smooth Communication: Instantly communicate with colleagues and service users using online meetings and chat with Teams. Plus use an email platform that helps you manage your inbox efficiently and integrates seamlessly with your calendar for scheduling and organising meetings.
- Anywhere Access: access your work from anywhere. Your files are stored securely in the cloud with OneDrive, making it easy to work on documents whether you’re in the clinic, in the community, or desk based.
- Mailbox and OneDrive: The standard offering provides users with a 4GB mailbox and 2GB OneDrive storage.
If you require larger mailboxes or Office desktop applications these will need to be applied via top-up licences which can be purchased. Please refer to NHSmail licence top ups for Non-Enterprise Agreement organisations – NHSmail Support site to find out more.
Alternatively, you may choose to seek an arrangement with your local ICB, this is at the discretion of both organisations and managed locally.
DSPT requirements
- GP Federation must have valid DSPT submission and achieved Standards Met
- There will be a requirement to maintain DSPT status and ensure the current approved standard is met.
Administrative requirements
All organisations using NHS.net Connect must have two nominated PLAs (Primary Local Administrators), you will need to consider this role carefully before applying for NHS.net Connect.
This user will have responsibility for managing and administering all associated accounts and for cascading NHS.net Connect service updates and key information to appropriate stakeholders.
Existing NHS.net Connect accounts
Where an existing NHS.net Connect account needs to be transferred into GP Federation container, a decision will need to be made locally to determine the appropriate location for that account.
To transfer existing accounts, you will need to use the Joiners/Leavers process
Users are only entitled to hold one NHS.net Connect account and therefore a decision would need to be made on whether to transfer the original account or create a new identity which means the original would be subject to deletion.
Existing accounts may have 50GB mailboxes quota, GP Federation accounts only qualify for 4GB mailboxes, unless purchased as a top-up this needs consideration before moving accounts.
| Last Reviewed Date | 12/02/2025 |
