By Sam Blanchard Health Reporter For Mailonline and Stephen Matthews Health Editor For Mailonline
Published: 12:22 GMT, 7 January 2019 | Updated: 16:18 GMT, 7 January 2019
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Millions of NHS appointments could be conducted through Skype-style calls in the next five years, the 10-year plan for the health service revealed today.
In a desperate attempt to save money, officials announced they hope to slash a third of 'face-to-face' outpatient appointments.
And the 136-page plan revealed that 'every patient will have the right to online digital GP consultations' within the next five years.
The plan, unveiled by Theresa May during a visit to Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool, spoke of how 'digital appointments' are already helping patients.
The full document added that this is 'better for patients' and allows the capacity of stretched outpatient clinics to be used more efficiently.
In a desperate attempt to save money, officials announced they hope to slash a third of ‘face-to-face’ appointments – around 30million visits
Mrs May commissioned the plan last year after she pledged to spend an extra £20.5billion per year on the NHS by 2023/24.
The full plan was due to have been published in December - but faced a delay because of work on Brexit.
Among the highlights of the plan are digital GP appointments for all, exercise and healthy living programmes for 100,000 people a year, and
