England’s NHS is taking a bold step into the digital age, with plans to launch its first fully online hospital. Known as NHS Online, the project aims to transform how patients access care and ease mounting pressures on the health service. What is NHS Online? In its first three years alone, NHS Online is expected to deliver up to 8.5 million specialist appointments – four times the output of an average NHS trust – focusing first on planned treatments with the longest waits. How NHS Online will workThe process will feel familiar: patients will still be referred by their GP, but from there they’ll have the option to schedule appointments directly.