As part of the health service’s 10-year plan, the NHS App is set to become the entry point to an online hospital that, by 2027, will start connecting patients digitally to expert clinicians anywhere in England.
Called NHS Online, the digital health service is being designed so patients can be seen faster and to enable NHS clinicians to triage them via the NHS App. NHS England said patients will also be able to book scans at local community diagnostic centres.
Since it was introduced in 2019, millions of patients have used the NHS App to manage their care. Through enhanced app functionality, when a patient has an appointment with their GP, they will have the option of being referred to the online hospital for their specialist care. They will then be able to book directly through the NHS App and have the option to see specialists from around the country online, without leaving their home or having to wait longer for a face-to-face appointment.
If a patient needs a scan, test or procedure, NHS England said the app will enable them to book this at a time that suits them at a community diagnostic centre close to home. They will be able to track their prescriptions and get advice on managing their condition without needing to travel.
NHS England said NHS Online will improve patient waiting times, delivering the equivalent of up to 8.5 million appointments and assessments in its first three years – four times more than an average trust – while enhancing patient choice and control over their care.
The service will initially be rolled out to cover a small number of planned treatment areas with the longest waits. Over time, NHS England said it will expand to more treatment areas.
The NHS 10-year health plan aims to shift the health service from analogue to digital, using technology to help deliver patient services.
The service builds on and scales the artificial intelligence (AI) and remote monitoring already in use across the NHS.
Discussing the new service, Jim Mackey, NHS chief executive, said: “The NHS can, must and will move forward to match other sectors in offering digital services that make services as personalised, convenient and flexible as possible for both staff and patients.”
Patients who choose to receive their treatment through the online hospital will benefit from us industrialising the latest technology and innovations, while the increased capacity will help to cut demand and slash waiting times Jim Mackey, NHS
Mackey described NHS Online as a huge step forward for the health service, which he said would deliver millions more appointments by the end of the decade and offer a real alternative for patients.
“Patients who choose to receive their treatment through the online hospital will benefit from us industrialising the latest technology and innovations, while the increased capacity will help to cut demand and slash waiting times,” he added.
Before NHS Online goes live, the NHS said it will learn from existing research on patient experience of online care over the past five years and build this into the programme as it develops. The programme is being developed with a commitment to patient partnership in design and delivery.
Jeanette Dickson, chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, said: “This is a novel and potentially game-changing way of improving equity and speed of access to NHS services, which would reduce health inequalities.
“Obviously, we need to make sure that those who aren’t digitally enabled are not penalised in any way, but if this approach can be delivered safely and effectively, freeing up capacity in bricks and mortar hospitals at the same time, then it could potentially be a really good thing.”
Organic bedding brand Coyuchi recently launched its own organic mattress, combining cotton, wool, and Dunlop latex atop individually wrapped coils. While Coyuchi’s linen sheets are excellent, I was a little nervous to try the company’s first mattress effort. Bedding is not a mattress, after all, and expertise does not always transfer across endeavors. In this case, though, it did. Coyuchi’s organic Natural REM Mattress is wonderfully firm without being too firm and perfect for those of us who lack a sleeping style and tend to sleep every which way—side, back, stomach. I was never uncomfortable.
The design starts with encased coils on a wool pad and then, like a Midwestern dip, layers in smaller coils, latex, and then wool, and tops it off with an organic cotton cover. There’s surprisingly good edge support considering the distance between the coils and the top, and the mattress provides good motion isolation as well. Coyuchi says the Natural REM can be used with or without a box spring. I tested it for a few months on a box spring and then spent a week with it just on the floor and did not notice a difference. At 11 inches deep, there’s room for a topper, though I did not feel the need.
The cotton and wool layers are GOTS-certified organic, while the Dunlop latex carries the GOLS certification. The material is undyed, which is great for anyone bothered by industrial dyes. As with most of these organic options, the Coyuchi is made without chemicals, foam, or glues. Coyuchi’s Natural REM organic mattress is made to order in the United States and comes with a 100-night trial, which means you can get a full refund if it doesn’t work for you. —Scott Gilbertson
Coyuchi Natural REM ranges from $1,400 for a twin to $2,400 for a California king.
Mattress type
Hybrid
Materials
Organic latex, organic wool, organic cotton, (no dyes)
Under the surface are 11 individually powered speakers, including two five-inch woofers, two midrange drivers, two tweeters, and five “full-range” drivers. The collection includes both side-firing and upfiring drivers to bounce sound off your walls and ceiling for surround sound and 3D audio formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
Around back, you’ll find solid connectivity, including HDMI eARC/ARC for seamless connection to modern TVs, an HDMI passthrough port for connecting a streamer or gaming console, Ethernet, RCA analog connection for a legacy device like a turntable, and a traditional subwoofer that lets you side-step Marshall’s available wireless sub. There’s no optical port, but since optical doesn’t support Dolby Atmos or DTS:X spatial audio, that’s kind of a moot point.
Setup is pretty simple, but the bar’s hefty size adds some complications. At three inches tall, it’s a tough fit beneath many TVs. Conversely, the rubber feet that diffuse its 43-inch long frame from your console offer almost zero clearance at the sides and, unlike bars like Sony’s Bravia Theater 9 or System 6, there’s no way to extend it. That makes it tough to set the bar down properly with all but the thinnest pedestal TV stands, which are becoming common even in cheap TVs. All that to say, there’s a good chance you’ll need to mount your TV to use the Heston.
Like the Sonos Arc Ultra, there’s no remote, meaning adjusting settings mainly relies on the Marshall app. The app is relatively stable, but it froze up during a firmware update for me, and it usually takes a while to connect when first opened. Those are minor quibbles, and your TV remote should serve as your main control for power and volume.
Wi-Fi connection unlocks music streaming via Google Cast, AirPlay, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, and internet radio stations, with Bluetooth 5.3 as a backup. Automated calibration tunes the sound to your room (complete with fun guitar tones), and in-app controls like a multi-band EQ provide more in-depth options than the physical knobs.
Premium Touch
Photograph: Ryan Waniata
The Heston 120’s sound profile impressed from the first video I switched on, which happened to be an episode of Bob’s Burgers. The bar immediately showcased a sense of clarity, openness, and overall definition that’s uncommon even from major players in the space.
My kids’ appetite for stickers is endless. I find them constantly, on the mirrors in our house, on their school planners and water bottles, and occasionally stuck to the back of my chair or in the car. Stickers are also an accessible way of supporting independent artists. Maybe you can’t buy a painting or a T-shirt, but a sticker only costs a few dollars and you can display it everywhere.
For $12 a month, Stickii Club offers three different sticker styles—Cute, Vintage, or Pop—along with a storage sleeve and three stationery items, like a notepad, card, or stamp. The club works with independent artists and illustrators (no AI-generated art yet) to produce sheets of original designs. We tried the Pop subscription. These stickers are marvelous. There’s a huge variety in the sheets sent. Some are vinyl, some are transparent, but all are high quality and intricately detailed. The artist is also noted on each corner so we can look them up ourselves. My kids were delighted and traded them with each other like currency. I am now investing in Stickii folios (from $18) in the hopes that I can keep these just a little bit more organized (and sticking a few on my laptop while I’m at it).
★ Alternative: You can’t pick the style of box with a Pipsticks Kids Club sticker pack ($20), but with such a big selection, there are bound to be stickers that your child or children will love. It includes 15 sheets of Pipstickers, collectible stickers, a postcard, an activity book, and more. I have two kids who love stickers, and even we found the classic pack to be a bit much; Pipsticks also has a petite pack option for $14.