NHS Mail (NHS.net)

The NHS is encouraging ALL Care Providers to use NHS Mail. NHS Mail allows you to share communications securely with the other NHS Mail users and local authority .gov.uk email addresses.

Important:

It is a compulsory requirement to successfully complete the Data Security Protection Toookit (DSPT) to at least Approaching Standards Level before you apply for a NHS Mail Account. If you have not completed the DSPT please click here to see what support is available

Please note If your organisation has had accounts set up for it in the past (eg Staff who have now left) you must contact the NHS Mail Helpdesk on 0333 200 1133 to add or remove accounts

Why do I need NHS Mail?

As NHS.net is secure it allows safe transfer of medical and patient records between recipients. For example it allows GPs to send prescriptions to care homes by email or share medical infomation. It also allows secure email transfer to local authority ,gov.uk accounts

It is needed for Proxy Access

If you are ordering medication for your residents using the proxy access system, you must have an NHS Mail account to access this

Free access to Microsoft Teams.

Teams is Microsofts online video conferencing software and is included free of charge with NHS Mail. With teams you can meet remore colleagues without leaving the office or allow GPs to conduct 'virtual consultations' with your service users

It's a Contractual obligation with the Health Service and Local Authorities

As more emphasis is placed on data security, the health system will likely prioritise working with providers who have NHS.net to the detriment of those who do not. If you have an existing contract with your CCG, it is a contractual requirement that you have or are working towards obtaining NHS.net. It also gives you access to the contact details of nearly 1 million health personnel.

It goes towards your KLoEs

CQC look favourable on a provider having NHS.net (KLOEs 2.8 Well Led)

Accounts are Transferable

Individual accounts are transferrable should the member of staff leave or you employ a new member of staff with an existing NHS.net account

Apply for NHS Mail

Once you have completed the DSPT to at least Approaching Standards level you can apply for your NHS Mail Accounts

Currently you can do this in 2 ways:

NHS Mail Fast Track Process

This allows you to open 2 individual accounts and a shared mailbox for the provider. You need to complete an application form and then mail it to care.registration@nhs.net

NHS Mail Application Portal

This route allows up to 10 individual accounts to be opened but is slightly more complicated

To apply for your NHS Mail account please click on the button below and you will be redirected to the NHS Mail Portal

You will need the following information:

Your CQC Location ID

Your CQC Managers ID

The Postcode where you are registered

(if you don't have any of the above information you will have the option to request a one time passcode which can be emailed or posted to you)

You can set up to 10 individual email addresses per site. These must be named individuals. You cannot set up a generic address (eg carehomemanager@nhs.net). A shared mailbox for the site - which individual users can access - will automatically be created

All individual addresses must be set up during the application process. You cannot go back into the portal to set up accounts at a later date.

For each individual address you will need a unique existing email address (can be a personal one as will only be used to send joining instructions) and a unique mobile number (again can be a personal one as will be used to text a once time passcode)

To help you we have put together a checklist for you to get this information together in advance

Please note you cannot use this route for adding new users to an existing Company NHS Mail account. You will need to contact the NHS Mail helpdesk (email careadmin@nhs.net or call 0333 200 1133)

Apply for NHS Mail

Should you run into problems during the set up process, unfortunately the association is unable to offer technical assistance. In this instance you should contact the NHS Mail helpdesk on 0333 200 1133