Does PSTN switch-off 2027 affect UK GP practices?

Yes. Any GP practice still using copper PSTN lines for phone, alarm monitoring, fax, lift emergency phones or telecare needs migration to IP/VoIP/GSM equivalents before 31 January 2027.

Is there NHS funding for PSTN migration?

Some ICBs and NHS England regional programmes have provided support. Check with your ICB. Most GP practices manage the cost through normal operational budgets — PSTN replacements (cloud VoIP, IP alarm monitoring) are often cheaper monthly than existing PSTN services.

Will fax still work for NHS referrals after 2027?

NHS Digital is phasing out fax. Most hospitals accept electronic referrals via NHSmail or eRS. For remaining fax requirements, eFax (email-to-fax gateway) covers it without a physical machine.

What about telecare for vulnerable patients?

PSTN-connected telecare alarms need migration. Telecare Services Association members are coordinating the transition. Contact your patients' telecare providers or your ICB's TEC team to ensure vulnerable patients' alarms continue working post-switch-off.

PSTN Switch-Off 2027 for UK GP Practices & Healthcare (2026 Readiness)

Last updated: April 2026

If you run a UK GP practice, dental practice, veterinary practice, care home or similar healthcare provider, the January 2027 PSTN switch-off affects you — probably more than you think. Patient phone lines, alarm monitoring, SEND boards, older telecare systems all use PSTN. Replacement needs to be planned before the end of 2026.

What's being switched off

BT Openreach is permanently switching off the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and ISDN services on 31 January 2027. Every copper-based analogue phone line in the UK stops working on that date.

Affected in a typical GP practice / healthcare setting:

Main reception phone line
Emergency / out-of-hours forwarding lines
Alarm circuits (intruder, fire, personal/pendant alarms for staff)
SEND boards (Simplified Emergency Notification Devices still in some older practices)
Fax lines for referral correspondence with hospitals
Lift emergency phones (multi-storey practices)
Payment terminals using dial-up PSTN modems
Telecare links for vulnerable patients monitored remotely

NHS Digital has been flagging this since 2022. GP federations and ICBs often have support programmes, but final responsibility rests with each practice.

What to replace each with

Main reception phone

Cloud VoIP system via NHS-approved providers (NHS Business Services Authority lists approved suppliers). Good VoIP systems for GP practices include:

Integrated with SystmOne, EMIS, Vision
Call recording for clinical governance
Auto-attendant to route calls to reception, test-line, prescriptions
Queue management
Video calls for consultations

Typical cost: £15-30/user/month.

Alarm circuits

Migrate to IP-based monitoring. BT Redcare IP, CSL DualCom IP equivalents. Requires check with your alarm monitoring company. Monthly costs similar to existing PSTN monitoring, sometimes slightly cheaper.

Staff personal alarms

Some healthcare settings use PSTN-based pendant alarms for lone-working staff. Replace with GSM-based personal alarms (cellular), app-based alternatives (e.g. Peoplesafe), or integrated mobile safety apps.

Fax for hospital referrals

Most hospitals now accept secure email (NHSmail) or electronic referral systems (eRS). Some may still use fax. Options: eFax service (fax as email attachment), or maintain fax capability via a dedicated gateway service. NHS Digital has been pushing toward electronic-only referrals.

Lift emergency phones

GSM-based lift phone units. Installers: specialist lift companies typically handle upgrades during scheduled maintenance. Cost £300-800 installation plus ~£10-30/month monitoring.

Telecare

Major area. Telecare Services Association (TSA) members are migrating to IP-based alarms. If your practice has patients on TEC (Technology Enabled Care) connected via PSTN, they need upgrading — coordinate with your Integrated Care Board.

NHS DSPT implications

Healthcare providers completing annual NHS Data Security and Protection Toolkit should document the PSTN migration in their 2026-27 submission:

Asset register updated with new systems
Risk assessment for transition period
Business continuity plan for cutover
Confirmation of replacement technology meeting NHS DSPT standards

Plan the submission for June 2027 cycle to include post-migration confirmation.

Patient safety priorities

Key patient-safety considerations during migration:

Main reception line cannot have downtime — schedule porting to coincide with opening hours but pre-agree with NHS 111 / cover arrangements
Emergency forwarding — any urgent-care divert numbers must remain fully functional through migration
Prescription lines — repeat prescription phone ordering systems must continue working
Patient-facing telecare — vulnerable patients' monitoring cannot drop

For practices using SystmOne, EMIS Web, or Vision with integrated telephony, ensure the replacement VoIP is compatible with your clinical system.

Timeline — what to do when

Now (April-September 2026)

Audit all PSTN-dependent services in the practice
Contact your current telecoms / IT supplier for migration plan
Contact your alarm monitoring company separately
Contact lift company if applicable
Review NHS DSPT asset register and risk assessment

October-December 2026

Begin migration — porting numbers to VoIP, replacing alarm circuits
Staff training on new phone systems
Patient communication about any number changes (should be none if properly ported)

December 2026

Complete all migrations
Test every system end-to-end

January 2027

Monitor through the 31 January cutoff
Confirm all services operational post-switch-off

CTN's role for healthcare

For GP practices and healthcare providers, CTN can supply:

Business mobile SIMs for practice mobile needs (duty phones, delivery drivers, community nurses)
Microsoft 365 Business Premium with Intune for device management (NHS DSPT-aligned)
Cloud VoIP via partner platforms for main reception phone replacement
Bundle pricing — 10% off Microsoft when taken with CTN VoIP or business mobile

What we don't directly supply: clinical system integration (SystmOne, EMIS), alarm monitoring, lift phones. For these, your existing specialist suppliers handle the specific kit; we integrate with their VoIP/IP migrations.

FAQs

Does PSTN switch-off affect GP practice main phone lines?

Yes. Any GP practice on a copper PSTN line needs migration to cloud VoIP before 31 January 2027. Most practices have already moved; any still on PSTN should start migration now.

Is there NHS-specific funding for PSTN migration?

Some ICBs and NHS England regional programmes have provided support — check with your ICB. Most practices are managing it through standard operating budgets.

What about patients with PSTN-connected telecare alarms?

Major consideration. Telecare Services Association members are coordinating migrations. Contact your patients' telecare providers (or your ICB's TEC team) to ensure vulnerable patients' alarms continue working.

Will fax still be needed after 2027?

NHS Digital is phasing out fax entirely. Most hospitals now accept electronic referrals via NHSmail or eRS. Some services still insist on fax — eFax (email-to-fax gateway) covers the remaining requirement without a physical machine.

Can CTN help with PSTN migration for my GP practice?

For the business mobile, Microsoft 365, and cloud VoIP sides — yes. For clinical system integration (SystmOne, EMIS), alarm monitoring, and lift phones, we coordinate with your specialist suppliers. Ask for a scoped migration plan.

Getting a quote

Call 01743 598025 or request a quote. Free PSTN-readiness audit for your practice — we'll identify everything that needs migrating and sequence the plan.