A new NHS online hospital service set to launch in England next year will initially focus on treating eye conditions, menopause-related issues and prostate problems, with the aim of speeding up access to specialist care and easing pressure on traditional hospital services.
The service, which was first announced in September, will be available through the NHS App from 2027 and will allow patients to receive assessments, follow-ups and routine check-ups entirely online.
It will be staffed by its own dedicated team of doctors and is expected to handle around 8.5 million appointments in its first three years — significantly more than a typical NHS trust.
In addition to eye, prostate and menopause care, the online hospital will also support patients with conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, anaemia, certain menstrual problems and non-cancer prostate concerns. NHS England has said the list of conditions will expand over time and that patients will not be forced to use the digital service, with face-to-face appointments remaining available.
Patients will be referred by their GP and receive specialist care remotely, while any necessary tests or scans will be carried out at local health facilities. Ministers and NHS leaders believe the approach will reduce waiting times by freeing up in-person appointments for those who need them most.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the service would benefit all patients by improving efficiency across the system. NHS England’s Professor Stella Vig said faster, more convenient access to care would have a meaningful impact on people’s lives.
However, health experts have raised questions about how the service will be staffed, funded and supported by existing NHS IT systems, warning that technical challenges could affect how smoothly patient information is shared across services.
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