The NHS has released a list of the first conditions to be eligible for a new ‘online hospital’
09:52, 06 Jan 2026Updated 09:54, 06 Jan 2026
Some NHS patients will be able to have video appointments with specialist doctors.(Image: Getty Images)
The NHS has announced it is to roll out a new ‘online hospital’ next year, which will enable patients to have video appointments with specialist doctors.
Officials hope the move will drive down waiting lists and speed up care, meaning people can speak to doctors without leaving their home or having to wait for an in-person appointment. Patients will be able to use the NHS app for a video consultation with doctors around the country.
The first conditions managed by the service have been announced by NHS England and include issues such as prostate problems, anaemia and eyesight. They also include women’s health issues such as severe menopausal symptoms and symptoms of endometriosis or fibroids.
Patients will be given the option of using NHS Online when their GP makes a referral – or they can opt for an in-person appointment if they prefer. Tests, scans and procedures will continue to take place at sites close to people’s homes, but patients can have ongoing monitoring through the app.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: “We’ve already made big changes in the NHS, but building a health service that’s fit for the future requires more than just evolution – it demands revolution.
“NHS Online will make accessing healthcare as simple as ordering a cab or a takeaway – fundamentally changing how people interact with the NHS for generations to come.
“People with the nine conditions we’re announcing today face some of the longest waits, ensuring they’re seen on time again as we shift the NHS from analogue to digital.”
Patients will be able to use the NHS app for a video consultation (Image: PA)
The nine conditions eligible for the ‘online hospital’, according to the NHS, include:
Severe menopause symptomsMenstrual problems that can be a sign of endometriosis or fibroidsProstate problems including:Prostate enlargementRaised prostate specific antigen (PSA) level – a possible sign of prostate cancerEye conditions including:CataractsGlaucomaMacular degenerationIron deficiency anaemiaInflammatory bowel disease.
Professor Stella Vig, national clinical director for elective care at NHS England, said: “The NHS’s new online hospital will see a huge shift in the way we deliver care, giving patients the option to have an online appointment with a specialist anywhere in England.
“We’ve selected nine common conditions which the NHS Online service will initially provide support for when it launches next year, including some women’s health issues as well as prostate problems.
“We know that these conditions can be painful and difficult to cope with so providing faster, more convenient access to diagnosis and treatments will have a real and positive impact on people’s lives.”
Dr Sue Mann, national clinical director in women’s health at NHS England, said: “Menstrual problems, that can be caused by conditions such as endometriosis or fibroids, or menopause symptoms can affect every part of a woman’s life, so it’s essential that the NHS provides better access to effective treatments more quickly.
“NHS Online will make it easier for women to see a consultant from their own home without having to face a long wait for an in-person appointment, meaning they can get on with their daily lives.”