New research by Cellnex UK has revealed that frontline healthcare staff lose an average of over 122 hours annually, equivalent to 17 working days, due to outdated and unreliable digital infrastructure.

More than half (56%) say these delays have directly affected their ability to deliver urgent care.

The recent survey of 500 UK healthcare professionals, uncovers how persistent connectivity issues, including insufficient Wi-Fi and mobile connectivity, are quietly eroding productivity, compounding pressure on already stretched services, and contributing to staff burnout.

As the sector continues to digitise, the findings underscore the critical, but often overlooked, role of digital infrastructure in supporting care delivery and workforce wellbeing.

On average, healthcare staff report losing 31 minutes per day to connectivity-related delays. In GP practices, the impact is particularly acute: over three-quarters (76%) of respondents lose 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, nearly one in four (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%). Without reliable mobile connectivity alternatives – such as 5G – the issue risks being further compounded, potentially leaving teams disconnected at critical moments.

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

The strain is also being felt on a personal level. One in four (25%) hospital and GP staff have considered leaving their roles due to ongoing connectivity issues. More than half (58%) report increased stress, and a quarter (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.

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“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 which explores how digital infrastructure may be limiting the efficiency of UK healthcare. The report looks at solutions, such as Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS), and how they can improve mobile connectivity, unlocking valuable time, reducing pressure, and supporting better care delivery.