Government Unveils Plan for 'NHS Online': A New Digital Hospital to Cut Waiting Lists
The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has announced a major new initiative called "NHS Online," a dedicated digital health service designed to transform patient access and significantly reduce NHS waiting lists.
This new service, which the PM is calling an "online hospital," is set to begin operating in 2027 and aims to deliver up to 8.5 million extra NHS appointments in its first three years.
What This Means for Patients
The core promise of NHS Online is to put patients in control of their care by leveraging digital technology. Instead of being entirely reliant on traditional hospital systems, patients will have more flexibility and choice over when and how they receive certain aspects of their treatment.
Sir Keir Starmer described this as "a new chapter in the story of our NHS, harnessing the future," with the ultimate goal being to see waiting times cut for everyone.
How the Online Hospital Will Work
The new service will be an NHS organisation, staffed by NHS clinicians, and will work by industrialising the latest technology and innovations already in use across some trusts.
- Access: The online hospital will be accessible through the existing NHS App.
- Choice: Patients will be able to choose between receiving care via the digital service or through their local physical hospital.
- Capacity: By moving certain appointments and services online, the NHS aims to reduce demand on local hospital capacity, helping to slash waiting lists across the board.
Services Offered Online
The NHS Online platform is designed to provide comprehensive, integrated care without the need for a physical visit for many services. Patients who opt to use the service will be able to:
- Appointments & Advice: Connect with specialist clinicians for virtual consultations and receive clinical advice on managing their condition remotely.
- Medication: Access and track prescriptions directly through the app.
- Diagnostics & Tests: Be referred for scans and tests via the digital platform.
- Physical Procedures: Book necessary physical tests or procedures at a nearby hospital, surgical hub, or community diagnostic centre, all managed through the app.
Healthwatch Considerations
While this represents a significant step forward in modernisation, industry leaders have urged caution to ensure the benefits are realised without unintended consequences. For Healthwatch, key areas of focus moving forward will include:
- Avoiding Digital Exclusion: Protecting people who cannot access or use the service, ensuring there is no "digital exclusion" that creates a two-tier system of care.
- New Funding: Verifying that the initiative is supported by new, dedicated funding to prevent it from destabilising or draining resources from existing vital services.
- Data Handling: Ensuring robust security and privacy protocols for the handling of sensitive patient data within the new digital framework.
