
South Central Ambulance Service makes plea over repeat prescriptions
"You may have noticed a change in services at your local pharmacy - if you haven't yet, it's really important to know that you can no longer request repeat prescriptions via your pharmacy," Jonathan Osmond, locality manager for integrated urgent care and NHS 111 at SCAS, said."This must now be done via the NHS App or via your own GP practice. This is to ensure that all medication requests are clinically reviewed and safely managed."
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Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE NHS is set to dish out Mounjaro prescriptions to more patients, as private clinics prepare to double their prices from next month. Mounjaro maker Eli Lilly revealed last week it would dramatically raise its pharmacy charges for the UK in September, prompting slimmers to scramble to stock up on the jab before price hikes set in. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Private Mounjaro users could get the jab on the NHS if they meet certain criteria Credit: EPA Lilly said it would up British prices to match the rest of Europe, after US President Donald Trump ordered American pharmaceutical companies to lower prices for patients in the US by hiking charges in other countries. The manufacturer said it has agreed a secret, cheaper deal with the NHS but could not control private pharmacy prices. 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Anyone with questions about stopping the drugs should speak to their private provider, the letter added. More than a million people in the UK are estimated to be buying fat jab injections privately. It's thought that some 625,000 Mounjaro users will now turn to Wegovy - the second most popular weight loss injection in the UK - after it maker revealed it would not be hiking up its prices in response to Lilly's announcement. Studies suggest the jab, known as semaglutide, is not as strong as Mounjaro but is still super-effective. Wegovy currently costs between £100 and £200 per month from private online pharmacies. Danish firm Novo Nordisk told The Sun committed to keeping its weight loss injection affordable. A Novo Nordisk spokesperson told The Sun: 'We currently have no plans of changing our offering in the UK. 'Our focus is on supporting patients, and we are committed to ensuring that our medicines are not only innovative but also accessible and affordable for those who need them most." Aaron Arman, Superintendent Pharmacist at CheqUp, said it was possible for patients to make the switch to Wegovy. He said: 'Both Mounjaro and Wegovy work in similar ways and are proven to be highly effective in supporting people tackling obesity or seeking to reduce their weight, and both are suited to patients meeting the same clinical criteria. 'For patients unable to afford the increase in price, it is possible to switch from Mounjaro to Wegovy though the dose they can switch to will depend on the Mounjaro dose they are currently on.' Meanwhile, experts have warned of a risk to patient health as Mounjaro price hikes could push people to buy jabs off dodgy sellers. There are concerns cash-strapped users will be tempted by the black market of bogus online pharmacists or even buying on social media. Abdal Alvi, of Simple Online Pharmacy, said: 'Cheap is not cheap when it comes to your health.' Amid fears that patients could be forced to stop taking weight loss jabs or turn to dangerous alternatives, the Government is looking into ways to maintain access. A Department of Health spokesman said: 'This government is committed to ensuring that more people have access to these revolutionary drugs when needed, and crucially that they are able to do so in a safe and controlled way. 'Pricing in the private market is a matter for Eli Lilly and for private providers of weight loss and diabetes services. Eli Lilly are working with providers to maintain patient access. 'NHS commissioning of tirzepatide, based on clinical priority, is unaffected by the change in list price.' A Lilly spokesperson last week said: 'Following a review, Lilly will increase the UK list price for Mounjaro (tirzepatide) from 1 September to address pricing inconsistencies compared to other developed countries, including in Europe. 'In parallel, we have reached an agreement with the NHS to ensure continued supply and patient access. 'While Lilly does not determine the prices that private healthcare providers set, we are working with them to maintain patient access. 'The UK was one of the first countries where Lilly launched Mounjaro, and our priority was to bring it to patients as quickly as possible during a time of limited supply of GLP-1 RA treatments for type 2 diabetes. 'At launch, Lilly agreed to a UK list price that is significantly below the European average to prevent delays in NHS availability. 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