NHS England has announced plans to establish an online hospital, called NHS Online, which will provide specialist care through digital channels rather than a physical site.
The service is expected to begin seeing patients from 2027.
NHS England said patients will be able to access specialist consultations through the NHS App and book scans, tests, or procedures at Community Diagnostic Centres. Referrals to the online hospital can be made via GPs, and patients will have the option to schedule appointments at convenient times.
Initially, NHS Online will focus on planned treatment areas with the longest waiting times, expanding to additional areas over time. The programme will incorporate existing digital innovations such as AI and remote monitoring and is being developed with patient involvement.
NHS Online aims to connect patients with specialists across England, with the intention of supporting faster access to care while maintaining clinical safety. NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) will work with clinicians and unions on delivery.
The service will build on existing virtual pathways in some trusts, such as University Hospital Southampton, Moorfields Eye Hospital, and Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, which have introduced digital triage and remote follow-ups to manage patient demand.
