The research of 500 UK healthcare professionals, by Cellnex UK, shows 6% of staff say these delays have directly affected their ability to deliver urgent care.

On average, healthcare staff report losing 31 minutes per day to connectivity-related delays. In GP practices, the impact is particularly acute, with 76% of respondents losing between 20 minutes and an hour daily, while 12% report losing up to two hours.

More than a quarter (27%) of all respondents experience connectivity issues over half the working week. Among hospital staff, 24% face these challenges every single day.

Unreliable Wi-Fi is a major concern, with staff frequently reporting difficulties accessing or operating essential systems, including electronic patient records (41%), wireless medical equipment (38%), and remote triage services (41%). 

Over two-thirds (68%) say poor connectivity undermines their efficiency, while 62% report disrupted communication with colleagues and patients.

The survey reveals that 25% of hospital and GP staff have considered leaving their roles due to ongoing connectivity issues. More than half (58%) report increased stress and 25% cite burnout linked to disconnection from their support networks during the working day.

Nick Bagshaw, business development manager at Cellnex UK, said: ‘This research shines a light on a challenge that's often invisible but deeply felt across the healthcare sector. Every minute lost to poor connectivity is time that could be spent delivering care, supporting colleagues, or easing the pressure on already stretched teams.

‘As healthcare becomes increasingly digital, underscored by recent government investment in NHS technology and infrastructure, reliable connectivity must be seen as a must-have, not a nice-to-have.'

These findings are part of The True Cost, a report that explores how digital infrastructure may be limiting the efficiency of UK healthcare.