The NHS has released a list of the first conditions that are set to be eligible for appointments at the new ‘online hospital’ next year with Menopause and prostate problems among the priorities
NHS Online is a flagship reform programme at the heart of efforts to modernise the health service. It will harness digital technology to fundamentally change how people are able to access healthcare for generations to come, ensuring it is more personalised, more convenient and more democratic. While patients will always have the option of in-person appointments, NHS Online will help tackle deep rooted inequalities in the healthcare system by ending the postcode lottery of care and help make getting treatment as easy as online banking.
The service will allow patients to be seen much more quickly by digitally connecting them to expert clinicians across England, no matter where they are in the country.
NHS Online, which will see its first patients in 2027, is expected to deliver the equivalent of up to 8.5 million virtual appointments and assessments in its first three years – four times more than an average NHS trust.
Women’s health issues including severe menopause symptoms and menstrual problems that can be a sign of endometriosis or fibroids will be among the conditions available for online referrals.
Prostate problems like prostate enlargement and a raised prostate specific antigen (PSA) level will also be covered by the service, along with eye conditions including cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration.
NHS Online will also provide support for other painful and distressing conditions, such as iron deficiency anaemia and inflammatory bowel disease.
Patients will have the option of using NHS Online when their GP makes a referral for specialist care. Instead of having a physical site, patients will be able to receive care from doctors around the country directly through the NHS App – without leaving their home or having to wait longer for an in-person appointment.
Tests, scans or procedures will continue to take place at healthcare sites closer to patients’ homes, while clinicians will be able to review their notes remotely. This streamlines the process and allows patients to move quickly from referral to treatment to follow-up care.
The groundbreaking new model of care will allow patients to be seen at a convenient time without needing to go to hospital, while those who would prefer to be referred via the traditional route will always have the choice to see specialists at a healthcare site.
