NHS England to Launch New Online Hospital Service for Selected Conditions

NHS England has announced plans to launch a new online hospital service, known as NHS Online, which is expected to begin seeing patients from 2027. The service will initially focus on a defined group of nine conditions, including menopause, certain menstrual problems, and prostate conditions.

The announcement follows the launch of the programme by the Prime Minister in September 2025 and marks the first stage of what NHS England describes as a significant expansion of digitally delivered specialist care.

What is NHS Online?

NHS Online is intended to provide faster access to specialist advice and follow-up care through the NHS App. Patients referred by their GP may be offered the option of:

-Digital triage through the NHS App

-Video consultations with specialist clinicians

-Remote monitoring and follow-up care at home

The service will not operate from a single physical hospital site. Instead, it aims to connect patients with specialist clinicians across England, regardless of where they live.

NHS England has stated that in-person care will continue to be available, and that patients who need physical examinations, scans, or procedures will still attend local hospitals or healthcare hubs.

Conditions included in the first phase

In its initial rollout, NHS Online will focus on the following nine conditions:

-Menopause

-Menstrual problems that may indicate endometriosis or fibroids

-Prostate enlargement

-Raised prostate specific antigen (PSA)

-Cataracts

-Glaucoma

-Medical retina conditions, including age-related macular degeneration

-Inflammatory bowel disease

-Iron deficiency anaemia

According to NHS England, these conditions were selected because they account for a significant proportion of outpatient referrals and are areas where digital pathways are already in use in parts of the NHS.

How referrals will work

Patients will only access NHS Online following a GP referral. At that point, they may be offered the choice of using the online service rather than waiting for a traditional face-to-face outpatient appointment.

While consultations and follow-up may take place remotely, any required tests, scans, or procedures will continue to be delivered at appropriate local healthcare sites. Clinicians will be able to review results and patient records remotely, with the intention of reducing delays between referral, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up.

NHS England has said that patients will always retain the option of traditional, in-person care if they prefer.

Expected impact on waiting lists

NHS England estimates that NHS Online could deliver the equivalent of up to 8.5 million virtual appointments and assessments within its first three years of operation. It has been suggested that increased use of digital pathways could reduce pressure on outpatient waiting lists, while freeing up in-person appointments for patients who need or want them.

Examples cited by NHS England include existing digital services at Moorfields Eye Hospital and University Hospital Southampton, where virtual pathways have reportedly reduced waiting times and follow-up appointments for some patient groups.

Women’s health and digital care

Women’s health issues form part of the initial scope of NHS Online, with menopause and some menstrual problems included. NHS England has stated that digital access to specialist advice may help some women receive assessment and treatment more quickly, particularly where symptoms are severe or affecting daily life.

As with all digital health initiatives, questions remain about accessibility, digital exclusion, and how well online pathways meet the needs of people with complex health histories, communication barriers, or safeguarding concerns.

What this means for patients

NHS Online represents a planned expansion of digital care within the NHS rather than a replacement for existing services. Patients will not be required to use the service and will continue to have the right to face-to-face appointments.

Further details about eligibility, clinical criteria, and patient choice are expected as the service is developed and piloted ahead of its planned launch.

MAMA Academy will continue to monitor how changes to NHS service delivery affect pregnant people, parents, and families, particularly in relation to access, safety, communication, and equity of care.