GPs to roll out weight-loss jabs to 250k people

Telegraph

4 hours ago

GPs will be able to prescribe weight-loss jabs to those who need them most from Monday.
Almost a quarter of million people across England will be prescribed Mounjaro, made by the pharmaceutical firm Lilly, on the NHS over the next three years.
The injections, which also include Wegovy, made by Novo Nordisk, are currently used by about 1.5 million people, but the majority of those patients access the medicine privately.
Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, said he was determined to make 'revolutionary modern treatments' available to everyone and 'not just those who can afford to pay'.
He added: 'Obesity is now one of the leading causes of ill-health, costing the NHS billions. Yet we now have the science, technology, and knowledge to end the obesity epidemic, if we seize this opportunity.
'The NHS was founded on a promise to 'universalise the best', and this Government is determined to bring revolutionary modern treatments to everyone who needs them, not just those who can afford to pay.'
He said making the jabs available via general practices was the 'beginning to shift the focus of healthcare from sickness to prevention, which our forthcoming 10-year plan will deliver'.
But GPs have voiced concerns about the extra workload and pressure it will put them under. Pharmacy leaders have said pressure on supplies will also be a factor, as it has been since the drugs were first licenced in the UK for weight loss.
The jabs were initially used to treat diabetes, but as well as lowering blood sugar levels they also slow down how quickly food is digested and make people feel fuller so they eat less, helping them to lose weight.
Patients previously needed to access the drugs through a special weight-loss service on the NHS.
In the first year of the programme, the drug will be offered to people with a body mass index (BMI) score of over 40, meaning they are 'severely obese' and it is having a drastic impact on their health.
They must also have at least four other health problems linked to obesity, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and obstructive sleep apnoea.
Prof Kamila Hawthorne, who chairs the Royal College of GPs, said: 'While we recognise the potential benefits of weight-loss drugs, we know many GPs are concerned about the implications of the rollout of weight-loss drugs into general practice, both in terms of workload and training to appropriately initiate and manage these treatments.
'The college shares these concerns, which is why we were pleased NHS England suggested a phased rollout of Mounjaro as a treatment for weight loss.
'As and when this is escalated, appropriate resourcing for general practice – including access to 'wraparound' services – and training for GPs must follow.'
Dr Hawthorne said there is no 'one size fits all approach' to weight loss, and that the rollout of the jabs should not 'come at the expense of other weight-loss service'.
She said the rollout would need to be 'consistently evaluated to ensure that there is evidence that these prescriptions are of long-term benefit'.
Olivier Picard, chairman of the National Pharmacy Association, said demand for the jabs 'continues to rise sharply, and more GPs have been directing patients back to pharmacies after initial enquiries to access these treatments privately'.
He said the industry is expecting 'to see prescription volumes increase rapidly', but warned: 'NHS provision won't meet demand straight away, so we fully expect that many people will continue seeking it privately from a pharmacy.
'The biggest concern we have is that prescribing these medications alone misses the point. They should be part of a comprehensive weight management strategy, combining lifestyle coaching, exercise, and nutritional guidance.
'As a result, we could end up in a situation where patients are prescribed the medication, lose weight, and then experience rebound weight gain once the course ends – simply because the foundational lifestyle changes weren't addressed.'
Dr Claire Fuller, the primary care medical director at NHS England, said: 'We urgently need to address rising levels of obesity and prioritise support for those who are experiencing severe ill-health – and greater access to weight-loss drugs will make a significant difference to the lives of those people.
'These drugs are an important tool alongside the range of wraparound NHS support and advice on good nutrition and increasing physical activity, which will be vital in helping some people lose weight and reduce their risk of serious long-term conditions.
'While not everyone will be eligible for weight-loss drugs, it's important that anyone who is worried about the impact of their weight on their health discusses the range of NHS support available with their healthcare professional.'
Around 29 per cent of the adult population in the UK is obese.