A new Online NHS Trust for specialist care
The new Online NHS Trust has been formally created, marking a major milestone in the development of NHS Online.
From 2027, the Online NHS Trust will give people in England the option to receive planned care through the NHS App. It will connect people with specialist clinicians across the country, helping them get care sooner without always needing to travel.
What the Online NHS Trust will offer
When it is the right option for their care, people can use the service to:
- have online consultations
- get advice on managing their condition
- access digital prescriptions for use at local pharmacies
- book tests, treatments and procedures through the NHS App at locations close to home or work
Why is the Online NHS Trust being introduced?
The Online NHS Trust is designed to:
- offer more choice and convenience
- provide faster access to specialist care
- reduce waiting times by using specialist teams across England
- free up face-to-face appointments for those who need them most
- support more efficient use of NHS resources
John Browett has been announced as the inaugural Chair of the Trust, bringing digital and business experience to the role. He will be supported by a group of Non‑Executive Directors who bring extensive knowledge from across the health spectrum.
John Browett said: “I’m delighted to take up the role of Chair of the Online NHS Trust, which will deliver NHS Online, as we take this important step towards bringing patients faster and easier access to specialist care. In my previous roles across technology and retail, I’ve seen how much people value services that are intuitive, responsive and built around their needs and look forward to helping shape this new way of delivering NHS care. The new trust board brings a wealth of expertise from across and beyond the health sector and together we will build an organisation focused on making a real difference to patients.”
NHS Online will speed up specialist care by giving patients with several common conditions the choice to digitally connect with expert clinicians across England, no matter where they are in the country, providing faster access to treatments.
It will provide up to 8.5 million virtual appointments and assessments in its first three years of service delivery, with conditions including menopause and prostate problems, recurring urinary tract infections and iron deficiency anaemia among those being treated when services launch next year.
