The government has clarified details on its plans for NHS Online next year and has selected nine conditions as the first to be treated.
The government is clarifying details about its plans to launch a fully digital hospital model, NHS Online, by 2027. Menopause and prostate problems will be among its priorities when it launches next year.
At the end of September last year, the government announced the fully digital hospital model as part of its 10 Year Health Plan to shift the NHS from analogue to digital. It will allow patients to access specialist care, book scans, manage prescriptions, and receive clinical advice from home via the NHS App.
The idea is that patients referred by their GP will be able to book specialist appointments directly. If scans or procedures are needed, they can be scheduled at Community Diagnostic Centres closer to home. The hope is that this will offer greater convenience and faster access.
The NHS has selected nine common conditions – glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts, inflammatory bowel disease, iron deficiency anaemia, prostate enlargement, raised PSA, menopause and menstrual problems, which may be a sign of endometriosis – as the first to be treated by the NHS Online service, providing faster access to specialist care.
“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,” said Stella Vig, national clinical director for elective care at NHS England.
“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.”
Greater convenience
Women’s health issues, including severe menopause symptoms and menstrual problems that can be a sign of endometriosis or fibroids, will be among the conditions available for online referrals.
“Endometriosis UK welcomes NHS England’s decision to prioritise menstrual health, including endometriosis, in the new NHS Online hospital,” said Emma Cox, chief executive of Endometriosis UK.
“For too long, those with endometriosis have faced unacceptably long waits and uneven access to specialist care. This new initiative has the potential to be a real step forward if it delivers faster diagnosis, quicker access to specialists, and genuine patient choice,” she added.
Prostate problems like prostate enlargement and a raised prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level will also be covered by the service, along with eye conditions including cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration.
NHS Online will also provide support for other painful and distressing conditions, such as iron deficiency anaemia and inflammatory bowel disease.
Patients will have the option of using NHS Online when their GP makes a referral for specialist care. Instead of having a physical site, patients will be able to receive care from doctors around the country directly through the NHS App – without leaving their home or having to wait longer for an in-person appointment.
Tests, scans or procedures will continue to take place at healthcare sites closer to patients’ homes, while clinicians will be able to review their notes remotely. This streamlines the process and allows patients to move quickly from referral to treatment to follow-up care.
The new model of care will allow patients to be seen at a convenient time without needing to go to hospital, while those who would prefer to be referred via the traditional route will always have the choice to see specialists at a healthcare site.
As more patients choose NHS Online, waiting lists are expected to fall. This will also free up in-person appointments for those who need and want them, helping people be seen more quickly.
