The NHS is preparing to launch a new online hospital that will initially focus on nine common conditions, including menopause related complaints and prostate disorders. The service, known as NHS Online, is positioned as a major step in the digital transformation of healthcare in England, aiming to provide faster and more equitable access to specialist care through virtual pathways.
Announced as part of a flagship reform programme, NHS Online will enable patients to be digitally triaged via the NHS App, consult specialists through video appointments and be monitored from home.
Reducing unnecessary hospital visits
The model is designed to reduce unnecessary hospital visits while maintaining the option of face to face care when physical examinations or procedures are required. The first patients are expected to use the service in 2027, with the NHS projecting the equivalent of up to 8.5 million virtual appointments and assessments in the first three years.
Women’s health conditions feature prominently among the initial priorities. These include severe menopause symptoms and menstrual problems that may indicate conditions such as endometriosis or fibroids. Prostate enlargement and elevated prostate specific antigen levels will also be covered, alongside eye conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration, as well as iron deficiency anaemia and inflammatory bowel disease.
Professor Stella Vig, National Clinical Director for Elective Care at NHS England, said: “The NHS’s new online hospital will see a huge shift in the way we deliver care, giving patients the option to have an online appointment with a specialist anywhere in England.” She added that faster and more convenient access to diagnosis and treatment “will have a real and positive impact on people’s lives”.
Existing digital innovations
The service builds on existing digital innovations already in use across the NHS, including online test results, digital prescriptions and virtual outpatient models. Examples include Moorfields Eye Hospital’s single point of access system for eye care and University Hospital Southampton’s digitally enabled gastroenterology pathways, which have significantly reduced waiting times and follow up visits.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting described NHS Online as a fundamental shift rather than an incremental change. “NHS Online will make accessing healthcare as simple as ordering a cab or a takeaway, fundamentally changing how people interact with the NHS for generations to come,” he said.
According to NHS England, the model is intended to help reduce waiting lists, free up in person appointments and address regional inequalities by connecting patients with specialist expertise regardless of location.
Sustainable hospital care
Last year, in July, the NHS Supply Chain intensified its collaboration with suppliers such as Medtronic Limited to drive forward decarbonisation initiatives across the healthcare sector. One of the goals of that collaboration is to reduce unnecessary hospital visits. This approach not only reduces patient travel and carbon emissions, but also enables earlier detection and intervention in chronic care pathways.
