- As Labour renews Britain, Prime Minister will announce
advanced new digital service for specialist care
- Service will deliver up to 8.5 million extra NHS appointments
in its first three years
- In contrast, Reform would leave patients footing the bill
through private healthcare model.
A pioneering new ‘online hospital' will transform healthcare in
England, improve access for patients, and slash NHS waiting
lists, the Prime Minister is expected to announce today
(Tuesday).
In his speech to Labour Party Conference, will set out the innovative
new model of care – NHS Online - that will digitally connect
patients to specialist clinicians – the latest step in the Labour
government's work to renew Britain.
Set to be rolled out from 2027, the new scheme will deliver the
equivalent of up to 8.5 million appointments and assessments in
its first three years – four times more than an average NHS
trust – widening patient choice and drastically cutting
waiting times for medical care.
The Labour leader will declare “a new world is coming” and say:
“In decades to come, I want people to look back on this moment as
the moment we renewed the NHS for a new world.”
is expected to say:
“I know how hard people work in the NHS - I see it my family -
and I celebrate it at every opportunity.
“But the responsibility of this party is not just to celebrate
the NHS, it's to make it better.”
The online hospital will be accessible through the NHS app –
which is a central part of Labour's drive to create an NHS fit
for the future. That drive has seen an extra five million NHS
appointments delivered since Labour came to office.
Patients will always have the choice between NHS Online and their
local hospital. Those who opt in to the service will also access
and track prescriptions, be referred for scans and tests,
and receive clinical advice on managing their condition – all
from the comfort of their own home.
If someone needs a physical test or a procedure these will be
booked on the App at convenient locations close to their
home or work - whether at a nearby hospital, surgical hub or
Community Diagnostic Centre.
As NHS Online is rolled out, the initial focus will be
on a small number of high priority treatments that currently
have the longest waits, and will expand over time to include
further types of treatment.
The Prime Minister is expected to add:
“A new chapter in the story of our NHS, harnessing the future,
patients in control. Waiting times cut for every single person in
this country. That's national renewal, that's a Britain built for
all.”
Labour's 10 Year Health Plan commits to shift the NHS from
analogue to digital. This new announcement is a bold modern
way of delivering care and utilising advances in technology.
AS Labour drives down NHS waiting lists, this latest policy comes
in stark contrast to plans from opposition parties.
The last Conservative government trashed the NHS and oversaw
record waiting lists, leaving patients waiting longer than ever
for the care they deserve.
While says he is “open to anything”
when it comes to replacing Britain's NHS with “an insurance-based
model”. That would saddle working people with a painful bill
whenever they fall ill or leave people paying through the nose
for expensive insurance policies.
Britain faces a choice between decency and renewal with Labour,
or division and decline with Reform.
The Prime Minister will set out in his Conference speech how
Labour chooses the path of renewal towards a fairer country that
has rediscovered its pride and is taking control of its future.
Ends
Case studies
NHS Online will build on tried and tested virtual innovations
already in place across the country. Some examples include:
- University Hospital Southampton's outpatient clinics were
overwhelmed with follow-up appointments for patients with
low-risk inflammatory bowel disease flare-ups. They developed a
virtual follow-up pathway, enabling patients to access care
remotely and initiate follow-up when needed, rather than being
booked into routine slots. They used digital tools to monitor
their symptoms and support decision-making. This led to a 73%
reduction in consultant-led outpatient appointments, over 75% of
patients managed virtually, and a 58% reduction in waiting
times.
- Moorfields Eye Hospital identified issues with long waits for
referrals to be reviewed, causing anxiety and distress for
patients waiting for care. They introduced a Single Point of
Access for virtual triage across multiple providers with all
referrals coming into a single shared system. Staff assessed each
referral digitally to quickly decide what kind of care was needed
and where it should happen, with patients prioritised if urgent,
directed to the right clinic if routine, or promptly informed if
a referral wasn't appropriate. Referral processing time
reduced from 11 hours to two, with 58% of urgent referrals
safely downgraded to routine clinics.
- At Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS
Trust, a partnership with Medefer has enabled virtual triage of
99% of referrals within 48 hours. This model has allowed 79% of
patients to be seen virtually and 82% to be discharged without
requiring a face-to-face appointment, demonstrating how digital
triage can manage high volumes safely and efficiently.
