The UK government has unveiled ambitious plans to introduce a comprehensive online hospital service for England by 2027, marking a significant shift in how the National Health Service delivers patient care.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is expected to announce the initiative at the Labour Party’s annual conference, describing it as part of a “new world” for healthcare delivery. The digital platform, called NHS Online, aims to reduce waiting times by providing virtual assessments, consultant check-ups, and follow-up appointments through a dedicated app.
How the Service Will Work
NHS Online will operate with its own team of doctors who will manage patients opting into the digital system. Patients will be able to schedule scans, tests, or procedures at local diagnostic centers directly through the app. The service targets medical areas where many patients may not require hospital admission, including eye care, women’s health, and digestive disorders.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting expressed enthusiasm about the project, noting that similar virtual services at University Hospital Southampton and Moorfields Eye Hospital have already demonstrated success. He emphasized that the online option would free up in-person capacity for those who need or prefer face-to-face consultations.
Ambitious Targets and Proven Pilots
The government projects that NHS Online will deliver 8.5 million appointments and assessments within its first three years—quadruple the volume of a typical NHS trust. This digital innovation forms a central component of the 10-year NHS plan released earlier this year.
Several pilot programs have shown promising results. University Hospital Southampton’s virtual service for inflammatory bowel disease patients reduced waiting times by 58%, with three-quarters of patients managed remotely. Similarly, Moorfields Eye Hospital’s digital referral system successfully handled over half of non-emergency cases through routine clinics, avoiding the need for specialist treatment.
Concerns and Challenges Ahead
While NHS Providers chief executive Daniel Elkeles called the initiative “very significant,” healthcare experts have raised important questions about implementation. Dr. Becks Fisher from the Nuffield Trust highlighted concerns about staffing, noting uncertainty about where doctors and nurses for the service will come from and how patients will transition between digital and physical care when necessary.
Critical considerations include ensuring patient data security and preventing digital exclusion of people unable to access online services. NHS England has committed to only including areas where virtual care is deemed safe.
Separate GP Booking System Faces Criticism
The announcement coincides with the rollout of a separate online booking system for same-day GP appointments, which launched Wednesday across England. The British Medical Association has warned this system could create confusion and potentially result in serious health conditions being overlooked. The new system allows patients to request appointments or clinician calls throughout the day, replacing the traditional morning phone rush.
Streeting defended the GP booking initiative as part of broader efforts to modernize primary care services for the 21st century.
NHS England chief executive Sir Jim Mackey stated the virtual hospital would offer patients “a real alternative” and greater control over their healthcare while delivering millions of additional appointments by decade’s end.
