More patients are set to receive faster and more convenient care from their own homes thanks to new digital technologies.
Dozens of pilot schemes across England will use remote monitoring and self-reporting tools through the NHS App to help patients share updates on their health with specialists.
Patients will be able to share information like blood pressure, oxygen levels, or other symptoms without needing to travel in for an appointment.
This will make care more convenient, help clinicians detect changes earlier and reduce pressure on hospitals. It will also free up staff time to see patients who need face-to-face care.
A new clinical trial has also been launched to support people living with motor neurone disease (MND) using remote monitoring tech, helping them to access breathing support from home.
The projects will help to inform wider expansion of remote monitoring across all long-term conditions. It is expected that remote monitoring could free up around 500,000 appointments every year.
The pilots will focus on five key specialisms where the technology can make the biggest difference: ear, nose, and throat (ENT); gastroenterology; respiratory medicine; urology; and cardiology.
Patients will be able to complete digital forms and questionnaires via the NHS App rather than attending hospital.
Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust is trialling digital pre-appointment questionnaires through the NHS App for patients with suspected respiratory conditions. This way, clinicians will have more information ahead of appointments and this will reduce the need to clinically unnecessary follow-ups. It is hoped this will increase the number of patients being treated within 18 weeks.
Health and social care secretary Wes Streeting said: "Patients expect care fit for the 21st century and that’s what I’m determined to deliver. This is a government that puts the NHS and patients first as our record investment in the service shows.
"Using tech to bring care closer to home frees up hospital appointments for those who truly need them and makes life simpler for everyone. That’s our mission: care that’s easier, faster, and always within reach.
"Through innovative approaches like this and NHS Online – which will digitally connect patients to expert clinicians anywhere in England – we are building a smarter NHS all while easing pressures on busy hospitals and stretched staff."
Ian Eardley, national clinical director for elective care at NHS England, said: "Right across the country the NHS is harnessing the latest technology to ensure people can get the care they need more quickly and conveniently, and closer to home.
"Remote monitoring enables vital information to be shared more easily and efficiently between patients and their health teams – allowing people to get the support they need without an unnecessary trip to hospital."
