News
NHS to set up new ‘online hospital’ that gives patients more control over their care
It's being called a 'huge step forward' for the NHS.
Emily Sergeant -
30th September 2025 
It’s official, the NHS is setting up a new online hospital.
In what is already being described as a ‘significant’ reform to the way healthcare is delivered in England, the Government has announced that the NHS is setting up an ‘online hospital’ known simply as NHS Online – which will not have a physical site and instead digitally connect patients to expert clinicians anywhere across the country.
Ultimately, this means patients can be seen faster than normal, as teams triage them quickly through the NHS App and let them book in scans at times that suit them at centres closer to their home.
So, how does it work then? Well, when a patient has an appointment with their GP, they will have the option of being referred to the online hospital for their specialist care instead, and then from there, they’ll be able to book directly through the NHS App.
Once referred to the online hospital, patients will have the ability to see specialists from around the country without leaving their home or having to wait longer for a face-to-face appointment.
📲 Introducing NHS Online 📲
— Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) September 30, 2025
A new digital hospital will transform healthcare.
From 2027, you'll be able to get specialist care:
✅ straight to your home via the NHS App
✅ faster than a traditional hospital appointment
✅ wherever you live in England
How it could work 👇
If they need a scan, test, or procedure, then they’ll be able to book this in at a time that suits them at Community Diagnostic Centres closer to home.
Patients will also be able to track their prescriptions and get advice on managing their condition at home too.
Set to launch to the first patients in from 2027, it’s expected that NHS Online will provide a ‘huge boost’ to patient waiting times by delivering the equivalent of up to 8.5 million appointments and assessments in its first three years – which is four times more than that of an average trust.
Connecting patients with specialists across the country through this new system also means that the same high-quality care will be available to everyone, regardless of their postcode, helping to reduce variation and inequalities.
It will also help to spread out demand too, especially as it means patients will no longer be held back by long local waiting lists.
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“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,” concluded Sir Jim Mackey, who is the NHS chief executive.
Featured Image – NHS Digital
