A new online service for specialist care

From 2027, NHS Online will give people in England the option to receive planned care through the NHS App.

It will connect people with specialist clinicians across the country, helping them get care sooner without always needing to travel.

Using NHS Online is optional. Anyone who prefers face-to-face appointments will continue to use existing services as usual.

What NHS Online will offer

When it is the right option for their care, people can use the service to:

• have online consultations
• get advice on managing their condition
• access digital prescriptions for use at local pharmacies
• book tests, treatments and procedures through the NHS App at locations close to home or work

How it will work

Care starts with a primary care consultation. If specialist input is needed, the GP or other practitioner may offer NHS Online as a referral option, but only when it is suitable for the person and their condition.

If the person chooses NHS Online, they:

• manage their care through the NHS App
• may answer simple questions about their symptoms online
• have their notes, test results and responses reviewed remotely by a specialist clinician
• receive notifications through the NHS App when action is needed – for example, answering questions, attending an online consultation or booking a test

If a physical examination or procedure is needed, NHS Online will offer these through existing local providers, such as community diagnostic centres or surgical hubs.

Conditions covered first by NHS Online

The service will start with conditions where evidence shows digital care works well and current waiting times are long. These will include:

• glaucoma, cataracts and medical retina conditions
• inflammatory bowel disease
• iron deficiency anaemia
• prostate conditions
• menopause and menstrual issues

More conditions will be added over time. Only those that can be safely managed partly or fully online will be included.

Why NHS Online is being introduced

NHS Online is designed to:

• offer more choice and convenience
• provide faster access to specialist care
• reduce waiting times by using specialist teams across England
• free up face-to-face appointments for those who need them most
• support more efficient use of NHS resources

It is expected to deliver up to 8.5 million appointments and assessments in its first 3 years.

Safety and privacy

NHS Online is designed to be safe and secure. Care will be delivered by NHS clinicians using approved, evidence‑based approaches.

Only staff involved in a person’s care can see the information they need. The service uses existing national NHS systems, including the NHS App and NHS login, which meet strict data security and privacy standards. Information is shared with the person’s GP in the usual way.

Digital care will never be the only option. NHS Online is being developed with patients, carers and community groups to make sure it is accessible and inclusive.

News

• New NHS online hospital to give patients more control over their care
• Menopause and prostate conditions prioritised for NHS’s new online hospital

Further information

A new NHS Online website will launch in summer 2026, with more details about how the service will work and how people can use it.