Keir Starmer Unveils Virtual Hospital Service as Labour Promises NHS Renewal and Reform

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is set to announce a major transformation of the NHS with the unveiling of a new virtual hospital service. During his speech at the Labour Party conference, Starmer will commit to launching NHS Online, a platform designed to offer patients remote consultations with specialist clinicians from across the United Kingdom.

The initiative aims to provide 8.5 million appointments and assessments within its first three years, beginning in 2027. Access to this service will be integrated into the NHS app, giving patients the ability to consult with experts without attending traditional hospital appointments. This shift is expected to streamline care pathways and potentially alleviate widespread concerns regarding hospital waiting times.

In his address, Starmer is due to outline the philosophical divide between Labour and Reform, positioning his party as committed to the renewal and rebuilding of Britain, while characterising political opponents as fostering division. He acknowledges that restoring public services will present difficult decisions ahead, and Chancellor Rachel Reeves has suggested that tax rises may be necessary in the upcoming November budget.

Labour’s new approach also includes greater patient choice in care by allowing individuals to seek treatment in private hospitals and through a system of hospital league tables, which encourage a competitive spirit among NHS trusts. Health Secretary Wes Streeting, the architect of Labour’s decade-long NHS modernisation strategy, argues that widespread adoption of best practices could generate savings of £20 billion on routine procedures.

Patients will be given the option of joining a virtual NHS trust and attending video consultations, in addition to managing prescriptions online. Those requiring scans or surgical interventions will maintain the flexibility to book procedures at local hospitals or diagnostic centres. This digital overhaul is intended to cut bureaucracy while enhancing efficiency and outcomes in a service often challenged by productivity shortfalls.

Starmer draws historic parallels, equating the scale of NHS change to the postwar reconstruction of Britain. He pledges to foster public service renewal and economic growth from the grassroots, aiming to instil a renewed sense of dignity and control for working people. As the Labour conference continues, Starmer’s vision sets the tone for a period of reform in British healthcare, with technology and patient empowerment at its core.