Patients across England will soon be able to access fast-track video consultations for a range of serious health conditions directly through an upgraded NHS app. The government has announced the move as a key step in creating a more accessible "online hospital".
Conditions Eligible for Virtual Consultations
The new service, set to launch next year in 2026, will initially manage several specific conditions. For men, this includes symptoms of prostate enlargement and a raised prostate specific antigen (PSA) level, which can be a potential indicator of prostate cancer.
For women, the service will address severe menopausal symptoms, as well as signs of endometriosis or fibroids. Other conditions covered from the outset will be eye problems like cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration, alongside iron deficiency anaemia and inflammatory bowel disease.
How the "Online Hospital" Will Work
Following a referral from their GP, patients will be able to use the NHS app to book a video consultation with a doctor anywhere in England. Health Secretary Wes Streeting stated his ambition to make accessing healthcare "as simple as ordering a cab or takeaway", with the goal of ensuring people facing long waits are "seen on time again".
While people can choose to wait for a traditional in-person appointment if they prefer, officials hope the convenience of speaking to a doctor from home will help drive down the formidable NHS waiting lists. Tests, scans, and procedures will still be conducted at local sites, but ongoing monitoring can be managed via the app.
A Step Towards Digital-First Healthcare
This initiative represents a continued push by the government to increase the availability of online healthcare. It follows last year's mandate for all GP surgeries in England to offer online booking systems.
Professor Stella Vig, the National Clinical Director for Elective Care at NHS England, endorsed the plan, stating that providing faster and more convenient access to diagnosis and treatments "will have a real and positive impact" on patient care.
The upgraded NHS app forms the core of what ministers have been describing as a new "online hospital", fundamentally aiming to make the health service more responsive and accessible for millions of people.
