Joining NHSmail
How NHSmail can support your digital delivery strategy
The NHSmail Service is at an exciting point in its evolution as we start to deliver new public cloud services through integration with Microsoft Office 365. NHS Digital, and our delivery partner Accenture, hosted a webinar on 4 October 2018 on how NHSmail can support your digital delivery strategy
During the session, our teams and service users covered the following topics:
Please see the slides and recording from the webinar.
NHSmail is an accredited email service. Organisations that deliver or support the delivery of health and care who choose not to use NHSmail, must also comply with the Secure Email Standard (DCB1596).
For additional information on each of the migration options, please review the content below by clicking on each of the expandable headings
If you are an individual member of staff working in a trust or other organisation that already uses NHSmail and you wish to register an account, you should contact your Local Administrator or IT Helpdesk.
The National NHSmail Helpdesk is unable to register new accounts on behalf of your organisation. It remains the responsibility of your organisation's Local Administrators, to perform all administrative actions on NHSmail accounts within their level of responsibility and this includes creating new NHSmail accounts on behalf of users.
In order to use NHSmail, all users must adhere and agree to abide by the rules set out in the NHSmail Acceptable Use Policy.
Overview
An increasing number of health and social care organisations are adopting NHSmail as their primary email system. This reduces duplicate email systems running across the sector and enables organisations to use IT staff for managing other more complex IT projects.
Accenture and NHS Digital have worked together to produce the tools and materials to support organisations on-boarding to NHSmail. You can reference all of this documentation below.
Further information on self-migrations can be obtained by emailing feedback@nhs.net. Additional detail for the supported and managed migration approach can be acquired by emailing your queries to nhsmail.development@accenture.com.
NHSmail Migration Communication Template
This document sets out a recommended approach for managing the communications around the implementation of NHSmail.
NHSmail Migration Comparison
This document provides a comparison between self-migrations, supported migrations, managed migrations & 3rd party migrations. It has been designed to help organisations plan their migration to NHSmail.
Discovery Questionnaire
This document is a discovery questionnaire that needs to be completed by all organisations who are self-migrating to NHSmail.
Project Initiation Document Template
This document has been developed to assist organisations who are planning to migrate to NHSmail with their project documentation.
Organisation Self-Migration Guide
Provides the outline and guidance for organisations to follow in order to be successful and achieve the migration using a Self-Service Migration approach.
Self-Migration Project Plans and Guidance
These documents are to assist organisations with planning and tracking their self-migration to NHSmail. There is a guidance document with links to project plan templates in both MS Project and MS Excel format. The project plans encompass the whole of the project life cycle and are aligned to the NHSmail Migration Checklist. Before using the project plans, please read the guidance document which explains how to use them.
NHSmail Migration Checklist
This documents provides a checklist of activities for organisations migrating to NHSmail, and guidance on how to complete it.
Guide on Safely Transferring Data into NHSmail
Activities to be carried out before commencing the movement of data into the NHSmail service to reduce the risk of transferring undesirable content, including Malware.
Reconciliation Spreadsheet
This spreadsheet is for all migrating organisations to enable them to reconcile their existing email users with their NHSmail estate, to aid the planning of the migration to NHSmail.
Migrations Implementation Guidance
This guide provides an overview of the standard migration managed timeline, a detailed explanation of process and key considerations for each stage, and then useful information for the key workstreams of a managed migration project.
As more non-NHS organisations take part in delivering NHS-funded care, their commissioners are also making it a requirement that information sharing is secure – and therefore making it a condition of contract that NHSmail is used as the means to share information between care providers. The basis on which staff working in a non-NHS organisation can be granted access to the NHSmail service is contained in the NHSmail Access Policy.
If you think your organisation qualifies (or if you have any questions about your eligibility to use NHSmail), then please complete the form within the NHSmail Access Process Document, and read and sign the Acceptable User Policy and send them both to feedback@nhs.net. If you are eligible to join, a member of our team will help get your organisation started.
NHSmail can be used by Optometrists to safely and securely exchange patient or sensitive information with other health and social care professionals. Please read through all of the information below, and then follow the steps in either section one or two, to get started. Please note the information below is applicable to Optometrists in England only. If you are based in Scotland, please contact nhsmail.scotland@nhs.net.
NHSmail plan to support the enablement of secure email accounts for optometry practices. A registration portal and national administration service will be piloted in Spring 2018 subject to demand and central funding. In the meantime, the below process still applies.
To register for an NHSmail account: if you work for an Optometrist only
NHSmail can be used by dentists to safely and securely exchange patient or sensitive information with other health and social care professionals. Please read through all of the information below and follow the steps for your chosen registration route to join NHSmail. Please note the information below is applicable to dentists in England only. If you are based in Scotland, please contact nhsmail.scotland@nhs.net.
NHSmail are supporting NHS England with the mass enablement of secure email accounts for dental practices.
Registration Routes
1. National Administration Service
This route is for dental practices who would like the setup and onward administration of the NHSmail accounts to be managed centrally. This option is available via a central online registration portal and provides a national administration service that will provide support to organisations.
Please use the portal registration tool here: https://portal.nhs.net/Registration#/dentistry
There are two authentication options:
Before registering, please ensure you have:
OR One Time Passcode (OTP) can be used as an alternative to the CQC Contact ID.
Note that any data refreshed with ODS or CQC will be added to the portal registration tool as part of the monthly refresh cycle.
Guidance for dental practices joining via this route:
How to complete the NHSmail Dentistry Registration Portal
Guide for Dentists using NHSmail
Dental groups with over 30 dental practice sites wishing to join NHSmail in bulk should contact the NHSmail team at feedback@nhs.net for details of the bulk upload process, putting “Dental bulk upload request” in the subject line.
2. Self-management
This route is for dental groups who wish to carry out the administration activities for their own NHSmail accounts. This route is only suitable for organisations with over 20 dental practices. Details on how dental practices can join NHSmail through the self-management model are available via the Self-Management Application Process and Form.
3. Local registrations
This route is for dental practices who have access to a local NHS trust, clinical commissioning group or clinical support unit who is willing to sponsor them to join NHSmail.
Guidance for dental practices joining via this route:
NHSmail dentistry local registrations
Local Administration (LA) responsibilities
In the NHSmail service, the term Local Administrator (LA) means the resource that manages email accounts. Typical local administration duties include:
Being the first point of contact for users.
Keeping up to date about the NHSmail service by reading our LA communications and taking part in our LA webinars - https://portal.nhs.net/Help/communications.
Practical examples are re-setting passwords, creating and closing accounts, creating distribution lists. The NHSmail Portal LA Guide provides clear guidance and further information.
The following table explains day to day local administration responsibilities for accounts according to the registration route chosen:
Registration route | Responsible for managing the accounts |
---|---|
1. National Administration Service (NAS) | NHSmail central team – known as NAS |
2. Self-management | Dental Practice ICT team |
3. Local registrations | NHS trust, CSU or CCG that sets up your accounts |
NHSmail can be used by pharmacists to safely and securely exchange patient or sensitive information with other health and social care professionals. Please note the information below is applicable to England only. If you are based in Scotland please contact nhsmail.scotland@nhs.net.
Introduction:
NHSmail accounts are being offered to community pharmacists to support the secure exchange of patient or sensitive data with other health and social care professionals.
Guide for Pharmacies using NHSmail - Suitable if you are new to using to NHSmail.
FAQs - Frequently asked questions for pharmacies using NHSmail.
The pharmacy registration portal is now live and available for all community pharmacies to register. Please note: as part of the pre-requisite activities for NHSmail, your pharmacy must have achieved a minimum status of two within the Information Governance Toolkit (IGT) version 14.1, or accredited via the Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT).
The pharmacy registration portal is available at: https://portal.nhs.net/pharmacyregistration
Guidance to complete the pharmacy registration using the portal is available here. If you are unable to locate your pharmacy within the pharmacy registration portal, please contact pharmacyadmin@nhs.net and you will be supported through the process.
Pharmacy multiples:
Pharmacy multiples identified as a member of the CCA and/or AIMP have been contacted directly by NHS England to confirm their intent to provide the NUMSAS service and understand their preferred option for the supply of NHSmail accounts (see below).
NHSmail Option 1
Bulk collection of data - Centrally managed process for the distribution of account details
Following confirmation of the use of a bulk collection route, NHS Digital has invited the lead pharmacy contact (known as the Super User) to complete and return a registration spreadsheet containing site and user contact details, including a mobile phone number and current email address for all individuals requiring NHSmail.
Completed data is being provided directly to NHS Digital via secure email exchange, who are checking the information and sharing this with the NHSmail service provider (Accenture). NHSmail accounts are then being issued directly to each user via the mobile phone number and current email address provided, also confirming the Pharmacy shared mailbox.
NHSmail Option 2
Bulk collection of data - Pharmacy managed process for the distribution of account details
Following confirmation of the use of a bulk collection route, NHS Digital have invited the lead pharmacy contact (known as the Super User) to complete and return a registration spreadsheet containing site and user contact information. A Data Sharing Agreement is required between NHS Digital and the CCA member.
Completed data is being provided to NHS Digital directly via secure email exchange, who are checking the information and sharing this with the NHSmail service provider (Accenture). The account registration process is carried out centrally and upon completion, NHS Digital return the account details via a secure encryption tool to the Super User. This lead pharmacy contact (Super User) is required to safely cascade the NHSmail account details to the individuals allocated NHSmail accounts at each of the pharmacy stores. It is expected that Information Governance rules and the data sharing agreement will be adhered to by the lead Pharmacy, and that account details and passwords are issued securely.
NHSmail Option 3
Individual registration - Self-submission via portal registration solution
An individual registration solution is now available whereby each pharmacy store can register for NHSmail accounts. The pharmacy store will need a nominated individual to complete the registration for the site, and be able to request account details for up to three users that DO NOT already have an NHSmail account, providing a mobile phone number and current email address to complete the NHSmail application process. NHSmail accounts will then be issued directly to each user, also confirming the pharmacy shared mailbox.
Registering community locum pharmacists:
Accounts will be requested on your behalf by the pharmacy participating in NUMSAS or QPS.
Registering hospital pharmacists:
Pharmacists based in NHS trusts should continue to contact their NHSmail local administrator via their IT department to register for NHSmail accounts.
Social Care
NHSmail are supporting NHS England with the enablement of secure email accounts for care providers to safely exchange patient or sensitive information with other health and social care professionals. Find out more about NHSmail on our Portal help pages.
Please read through all the information below, decide which registration route is best for your organisation and then start the relevant registration process. Upon joining NHSmail, each organisation will have one shared mailbox account per site and, in most cases, ten user accounts per site (more can be provided with business justification).
Please note that the information below is applicable to care providers in England only. If you are based in Scotland, please contact nhsmail.scotland@nhs.net
Registration Routes
The NHSmail social care overview provides information on the benefits and different ways to join NHSmail. You should read this document to determine which registration route is best for your organisation. Once determined, please follow the relevant guidance below.
1. National Administration Service (NAS) registration process
To join NHSmail via the national administration registration process please use the online registration portal tool here: https://portal.nhs.net/Registration#/careprovider
Please note that this route is currently only available to care homes. Registration should be completed by one person on behalf of each care home site.
Before registering, please ensure you have:
A current information governance submission. https://www.dsptoolkit.nhs.uk/
Care Quality Commission (CQC) location ID - this is your CQC registration number.
CQC contact ID - this is a code that is within your CQC registration information and is also known as the Registered Manager’s ID.
OR One Time Passcode (OTP) can be used as an alternative to the CQC Contact ID.
Care home groups with over 30 care home sites wishing to join NHSmail in bulk should contact the NHSmail team at feedback@nhs.net for details of the bulk upload process, putting “Social care bulk upload request” in the subject line.
Guidance for the National Administration Service:
Guide for social care organisations using the NHSmail national administration service
Social care FAQs relating to the NAS registration process
Guide on how to complete the NHSmail social care registration portal
2. Self-management process
The self-management approach is for care providers (including hospices and domiciliary care organisations) who wish to carry out the administration activities for their own NHSmail accounts. Details on how social care organisations can join NHSmail through the self-management model are available via the self-management application process and form.
3. Local registrations process
The local registrations route is for care providers (including hospices and domiciliary care organisations) who have access to a local NHS trust, clinical commissioning group or clinical support unit who is willing to sponsor them to join NHSmail. The local sponsor will be required to provide guidance for care providers on joining NHSmail.
Local sponsorship model application process guidance (for care providers)
Local sponsorship model guidance for sponsors / local administrators
Local sponsorship model application form
Local Administration (LA) responsibilities
In the NHSmail service, the term Local Administrator (LA) means the resource that manages email accounts. Typical local administration duties include:
Being the first point of contact for users.
Keeping up to date about the NHSmail service by reading our LA communications and taking part in our LA webinars - https://portal.nhs.net/Help/communications.
Examples of day to day activities include: re-setting passwords, creating accounts, creating distribution lists, managing joiners and leavers within your organisation. The NHSmail Portal LA Guide provides clear guidance and further information.
The following table explains day to day local administration responsibilities for accounts according to the registration route chosen:
Registration route | Responsible for managing the accounts |
---|---|
1. National Administration Service (NAS) | NHSmail central team – known as NAS |
2. Self-management | Care provider ICT team / department |
3. Local registrations | NHS trust, CSU or CCG that sets up your accounts |
The NHSmail Service provides a collaborative platform for health and social care professionals to share information through secure email and Skype for Business and it is becoming available free to all GP Locums.
A registration portal has been developed to enable GP Locums to register for NHSmail accounts. A rollout will begin in November 2018, following a pilot, and GP Locums will be invited to join NHSmail via an email invitation.
GP Locums who are interested in an NHSmail account are required to be on the National Performers Lists and providing NHS services.
To register for an NHSmail account, as a GP Locum, you would be required to provide the following:
Confirmation that you have completed the Data Security and Protection or Information Governance e-learning in the last 12 months. The Data Security and Protection Toolkit outlines the training requirement for all health and care professionals.
Confirmation that your details from the National Performers Lists are correct, i.e. Name and General Medical Council (GMC) registration number.
Individual One-Time Passcode: a 6-digit figure which will be sent to you with your email invitation (to your GMC registered email address).
Your current mobile phone number, for us to send your account set-up data to.
Guidance for GP Locums joining via the registration portal:
How to Complete the GP Locum NHSmail Registration Portal
Guide for GP Locums using NHSmail
GP Locum Frequently Asked Questions
Each GP Locum can have only one NHSmail account. If you already have an NHSmail account, please read the document GP Locum Frequently Asked Questions.
If you are a junior doctor wanting to join NHSmail, you should speak to the IT department of the organisation that you will be working for on your first rotation. If you have any issues, please contact feedback@nhs.net.
NHSmail can be used by independent midwives to safely and securely exchange patient or sensitive information with other health and social care professionals. Please see the Guide for Independent Midwives using NHSmail to get started. Please note the information is only applicable to London based independent midwives. If you are based in any other region of England then please contact your Regional Maternity Lead, and if you are based in Scotland then please contact nhsmail.scotland@nhs.net.