Accessing Mounjaro for weight loss
Your general practice or hospital services will not be able to prescribe this medication to you for Obesity until arrangements are in place.
Please do not contact your GP or hospital service for medication for weight management as they have been asked not to prescribe it at this time.
Access to general practice is difficult and resources are limited, therefore we would like very much to avoid booking unnecessary appointments for patients that do not qualify for Mounjaro injections, as this would block access to patients that are unwell and need to be seen by a doctor.
As agreed by NHS England (NHSE), 23 June 2025 will see the beginning of access to the drug Mounjaro® (tirzepatide) for the management of Obesity in primary care settings to a small group of specific eligible patients.
- Mounjaro® (tirzepatide) will not be accessible to everyone who wishes to use it. People with the highest health risks and who meet the specified NHSE clinical criteria will be prioritised as part of the national phased roll out plan.
- SE London ICB is still working on making a Primary Care Pathway available for the relatively small number of people in SE London (about 2000) who meet the qualifying criteria.
- To ensure consistency, clinical oversight, and system-wide coordination, this Year 1 pilot will be a centrally commissioned ICB pathway. This will not be operational by 23 June, however we anticipate it will go live before the end of July 2025.
In the interim eligible patients can continue to access weight management medication through specialist weight management services (SWMS).
Also the criteria to qualify for Mounjaro is as follows:
BMI of 40 or more (you need your weight and type to find out your BMI) it will be checked at the appointment to confirm is above 40 if it is not above 40 please do not book an appointment
If BMI is above 40 then you will also need to have been diagnosed with four of the following five criteria
- Diagnosed hypertension
- Diagnosed sleep apnoea
- Diagnosed type 2 diabetes
- Diagnosed cardiovascular disease
- Diagnosed hypercholesterolemia
If you do not have a BMI above 40 and four of the conditions above your GP will not be able to prescribe you Mounjaro for weight loss. (Based on the current guidance). Hence, we request that appointments are not booked for this purpose.
Further information can be found at Weight loss medicine in south east London - South East London ICS
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