The NHS has announced it will be setting up an 'online hospital' to give patients more control over their care.
NHS Online will digitally connect patients to expert clinicians anywhere in England.
The first patients will be able to use the service from 2027.
It is hoped that patients will be seen faster, as teams triage them quickly through the NHS App and let them book in scans at times that suit them at Community Diagnostic Centres closer to home.
After a GP appointment, patients will have the option of being referred to the online hospital for their specialist care. They can then book directly through the NHS App and have the ability to see specialists from around the country online without leaving their home or having to wait longer for a face-to-face appointment.
It is hoped NHS Online will deliver the equivalent of up to 8.5 million appointments and assessments in its first three years, helping to reduce waiting times.
At first, focus will be on a small number of planned treatment areas with the longest waits. Over time this will be expanded to more treatment areas.
Sir Jim Mackey, NHS chief executive, said: “This is a huge step forward for the NHS and will deliver millions more appointments by the end of the decade, offering a real alternative for patients and more control over their own care.
“Patients who choose to receive their treatment through the online hospital will benefit from us industrialising the latest technology and innovations, while the increased capacity will help to cut demand and slash waiting times.
“The NHS can, must and will move forward to match other sectors in offering digital services that make services as personalised, convenient, and flexible as possible for both staff and patients.”
Rachel Power, chief executive of The Patient’s Association, said: “NHS Online is a promising step towards enhancing accessible care and shorter waits for digitally confident patients. This model has real potential to cut waiting times and connect patients with expert care more quickly.
“We’re pleased to see patient partnership built into the programme and it will be vital that patients shape the design and delivery of this online hospital. While this initiative will take time to implement properly, it represents an important investment in the NHS’s future capacity alongside high-quality, in-person care.”
