Prescriptions for tirzepatide injections, to help people lose weight, will not be available from GP surgeries or pharmacies in Humber and North Yorkshire – yet.
Tirzepatide, sometimes known by the brand name of Mounjaro, is a weekly injection that was initially licensed to help treat type 2 diabetes, but can now be prescribed to help those with obesity to lose weight.
The medicine makes people feel fuller so they eat less. In clinical trials, people taking it lost a fifth of their body weight.
From today (23 June), tirzepatide injections will be available on prescription in some parts of England – but only for those who meet very strict eligibility criteria.
To access the weight loss drug, people must also sign-up to ‘wraparound care’ which addresses lifestyle factors like diet and exercise.
NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) is still finalising the details of the prescribing model and wraparound care that will be introduced in our area.
In the meantime, it says people should not ask their GP practice or pharmacy about getting tirzepatide on the NHS via prescription until the new community service has been brought in.
The ICB’s Chief Pharmacy Officer, Laura Angus, said: “The staged rollout of tirzepatide in Primary Care is being coordinated nationally by NHS England but is being led locally by integrated care boards.
“We are working hard to finalise the model we want to introduce in Humber and North Yorkshire and will share details with patients and stakeholders on our website, www.letsgetbetter.co.uk/weight-management, as soon as possible.
“However, it is important to stress that under the criteria that have been set nationally, only a relatively small number of people in our area, considered to have the greatest clinical need, will initially be able to get tirzepatide on the NHS – around 3,000 people out of a population of 1.7 million people.
“We understand the growing demand for weight loss injections, but at the same time NHS resources are finite and it’s important we prioritise those people whose weight puts their health at greatest risk.”
In the first year of the Primary Care rollout, the first group of people eligible under the national criteria will be those who have a BMI of 40 or over (or 37.5 if from a minority ethnic background) AND four or more of the following diagnosed health issues: a heart condition, high blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol or blood fats, obstructive sleep apnoea and type 2 diabetes.
If you are not eligible to receive tirzepatide on the NHS or do not wish to wait until a local community weight management service is available, you may consider accessing weight-loss medicines privately (not on the NHS).
However, the ICB says it is important to:
- factor in all costs – including consultations, prescriptions and follow-ups
- let your GP know if you’re taking tirzepatide or any other weight loss medication
- only buy from regulated suppliers and genuine healthcare professionals
Unregulated medicines can be fake, unsafe, or illegal. These can pose serious risks to your health. For further information, visit www.letsgetbetter.co.uk/weight-management