‘Virtual hospitals’ to be launched in 10-Year Plan

The upcoming 10-Year Health Plan is set to propose the introduction of “virtual hospitals” based on patients directly contacting consultants on an Uber-style platform, HSJ has been told.

Senior sources have indicated the proposal will involve a major overhaul and expansion of the existing “advice and guidance” model, whereby GPs can seek advice from a consultant before referring a patient to hospital, in the hope of finding an alternative.

Described by one well-placed official as “Uber for consultants”, the new proposal would create a system for GPs and individual patients to directly seek advice from any consultants, including those outside their home area, who make themselves available.

It is being described as “virtual hospitals” or “virtual clinics”.

Speaking at a session hosted by HSJ at NHS ConfedExpo this week, NHS England chair Penny Dash described a similar model which she said was “in the foothills” of development and could reap large benefits.

She said there should be a “much easier way” of GPs getting advice “from anywhere in the country” to help divert a patient from secondary care.

Dr Dash said: “It could be, for example, a model whereby you put in your question, let’s initially say as a GP or a practice nurse, it goes into a central repository as it were, and you have a team of [consultants] who are available for that time who are looking at it and responding to it.

“It doesn’t have to be the [consultant] in your local district general hospital, it could be anyone anywhere in the country.”

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Source: HSJ, 13 June 2025