WEIGHTLOSS MEDICATION UPDATE

You may have read in the press/across social media/heard on the radio that from today (23rd June), that weightloss medications such as Mounjaro® (tirzepatide), will be available at GP surgeries.  PLEASE NOTE THERE ARE VERY STRICT CRITERIA FOR ELIGIBILITY.

Access to Mounjaro® (tirzepatide) via the NHS is for those at greatest risk of ill health, or who are experiencing severe ill health due to living with obesity.  This means that in order to get weight loss medicines, you must meet certain criteria.

You must be:

  • overweight with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more (or 37.5 or more if you’re of South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean origin)
  • AND HAVE
  • 4 or more of the following weight related health conditions:
    • high blood pressure
    • high cholesterol
    • cardiovascular disease
    • obstructive sleep apnoea
    • type 2 diabetes

OR

  • have at least 1 weight related health condition and you need to lose weight urgently for a specified life limiting reason such as cancer treatment or organ transplant surgery

Therefore ‘Access’ on 23 June does not mean people will be able to get a prescription for Mounjaro® (tirzepatide) from their GP from then.

People living with obesity who meet the criteria only will be able to explore with their healthcare professional whether this is the right treatment for them. A new service is being developed so that eligible patients can access this medication through a dedicated primary care pathway. However, this new service is not yet available. We’ll let you know a start date when we know. Please note that the medication cannot be started through individual GP practices.

In the meantime, if you are eligible for weight loss medications, your GP will be able to refer you to a south east London specialist weight loss service who are able to prescribe the medication for you.