Weight Loss Medication on the NHS

Currently Hampshire and the Isle of Wight does not have a commissioned pathway for either semaglutide (Wegovy) or tirzepatide (Mounjaro) injections to manage weight loss/obesity.

In December 2024, NICE guidelines were published for the use of tirzepatide for managing obesity, setting out that tirzepatide should be made available for weight loss and that it is most effective alongside the right diet and exercise in accordance with the following specified referral criteria:

• In specialist weight management services to patients with an initial body mass index (BMI) of at least 35 kg/m2 and at least 1 weight-related comorbidity 
• In primary care settings to patients with a BMI of at least 40  kg/m2 (BMI to be adjusted for ethnicity) and at least 4 weight-related comorbidities

NICE guidelines have also been published for semaglutide (Wegovy) to advise that it should only be used within specialist weight management services.

As a result of this guidance, NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight is currently looking at the clinical steps needed to make this available for patients on prescription.

This means that this medication will be available for weight loss once the right clinical pathway is in place to ensure safe and fair access to tirzepatide for patients. This is expected to be in autumn 2025 through a staged approach which will help manage demand on existing healthcare services. 

As part of this staged approach, initially, tirzepatide will only be available in specialist weight management services and offered to individuals over the age of 18 who are living with obesity and facing the most significant health risks related to their weight.  Following this tirzepatide will be made available in accordance with the guidelines in primary care. 

Until the referral pathway is in place, there is no mechanism available in the community for the initiation of tirzepatide in managing obesity, so please help manage patient expectations in this regard by avoiding signposting patients to their GP. 

Further information for patients is available on the NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight website: NHS weight loss support :: NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight