A new NHS digital hospital service is set to begin rolling out in England next year, with a full launch planned for 2027 through the NHS App. The initiative will initially concentrate on nine health areas, including menopause, prostate conditions and several eye-related disorders. Patients will be offered online specialist assessments, follow-ups and monitoring, supported by a dedicated national team of clinicians rather than a physical hospital site.

The conditions chosen for the first phase include glaucoma, cataracts, retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, inflammatory bowel disease, iron deficiency anaemia, prostate enlargement, raised PSA levels, menopause, and menstrual symptoms that may indicate endometriosis. NHS England has said the list will expand over time. Importantly, patients will not be required to use the service and can still opt for traditional in-person appointments.

Under the model, GPs will be able to refer patients to the online service, where consultations take place remotely. Any tests, scans or procedures will still be carried out locally, with specialists reviewing results digitally. The government hopes the scheme will deliver up to 8.5 million appointments in its first three years and help reduce waiting lists by easing pressure on hospital clinics.

While similar virtual schemes have shown success in areas such as eye care and inflammatory bowel disease, experts have raised concerns about staffing, funding and IT systems. Think tanks have welcomed the focus on women’s health but warned that sharing patient data smoothly across NHS organisations remains a major challenge.