The NHS will launch online hospitals offering video consultations for nine common conditions, including prostate problems, menopause symptoms, and eye conditions. Patients referred by their GP will be able to speak to specialists via the NHS app, with the first appointments expected next year.
The conditions covered include women's health issues such as severe menopause symptoms and menstrual problems that could indicate endometriosis or fibroids, as well as prostate enlargement, raised PSA levels, cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, iron deficiency anaemia, and inflammatory bowel disease.
The initiative aims to speed up access to specialist care and reduce waiting lists by allowing patients to consult with available doctors across the country, avoiding unnecessary hospital visits. Tests and procedures will still take place locally, but clinicians can review notes remotely.
Professor Stella Vig, NHS England’s national clinical director for elective care, said the conditions can be “painful and difficult to cope with”, so providing faster access to diagnosis and treatment will have a “real and positive impact”. Dr Sue Mann, women’s health clinical director, added that the service will make it easier for women to see a consultant from home without long waits for in-person appointments.
Patients will always have the option of face-to-face appointments, and those needing physical examinations or procedures will continue to receive them at hospitals or local hubs. The NHS app, already used for prescriptions and appointments, will facilitate the video consultations.
