Wegovy (Semaglutide) and Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) access in Cheshire and Merseyside
8 January 2025
Obesity is one of the leading causes of serious health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer - and costs the NHS £6.5 billion a year. There were more than one million admissions to NHS hospitals in 2019-20 where obesity was a factor.
Semaglutide (Wegovy) is a weight loss drug that was approved by NICE in the UK on 4 September 2023. Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) has since been approved by NICE on 23 December 2024. These drugs should be made available on the NHS as an option for weight management in line with NICE Technology Appraisal guidance. In the case of Mounjaro NICE has stipulated the treatment should be made available:
- within 3 months from final guidance publication for all patients accessing specialist weight management services at that time and subsequently, since these services and the associated wraparound care is already established.
- from 6 months to support a phased introduction of delivery to other eligible cohorts. Prioritisation of cohorts for treatment will be based on a prioritisation statement led by clinical need and produced by NHS England that considers both referral prioritisation in specialist weight management services and priority cohorts in other settings, including primary care-based services.
Read the NICE guidance on semaglutide for managing overweight and obesity in adults.
Read the NICE guidance on tirzepatide for managing overweight and obesity in adults.
NHS England has published a set of FAQs in relation to Mounjaro.
Can I be prescribed either of these drugs for weight loss now?
Due to limited availability and capacity of specialist weight management services across Cheshire and Merseyside, Wegovy has not yet been made available, but we plan to do so alongside Mounjaro during the first half of 2025. In support of the NICE approval of Mounjaro, we are anticipating guidance from NHS England early in 2025 which will enable us to implement plans to start prescribing these drugs to those with the greatest clinical need, alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
During 2024 NHS Cheshire and Merseyside has been preparing for this by:
- Undertaking a full review of the current pathways and delivery of Specialist Weight Management Services across Cheshire and Merseyside.
- Developing a draft plan for the implementation of a Cheshire and Merseyside-wide service specification for the provision of specialist weight management services.
- Working closely with NHS England to ensure our plans are in line with the developing national guidance.
We recognise it can be extremely difficult for many people living with obesity to access the support they need, and because of this, we are working together across Cheshire and Merseyside to better support people living with obesity and overweight.
Will GPs be able to prescribe either of these drugs when they are made available in Cheshire and Merseyside?
Not initially, only Specialist Weight Management Services will be able to prescribe these drugs* and the drugs will be rolled out by the NHS based on clinical priority to ensure that those likely to experience the greatest clinical benefit will receive them earlier.
*The NICE approval of Wegovy is only for prescribing by Specialist Weight Management Services and not by GPs. The approval of Tirzepatide enables prescribing outside of Specialist Weight Management Services from the summer of 2025 but plans still need to be developed to enable this to happen.
What support is currently available to me?
There are a range of local weight management services which offer support in losing weight. These will vary depending on where you live. These include services commissioned by our local authorities as well as NHS commissioned specialist weight management services.
The NHS Digital Weight Management Programme supports adults living with obesity who also have a diagnosis of diabetes, hypertension or both, to manage their weight and improve their health. It is a 12-week online behavioural and lifestyle programme that people can access via a smartphone or computer with internet access.
We also know there will be many people who do not qualify for weight loss medications which may cause disappointment and/or exacerbate new and existing mental health and wellbeing issues. People may find NHS talking therapies a helpful source of support.
NHS Cheshire and Merseyside is committed to improving access to services that support individuals to remain healthy and prevent long-term health conditions and in the coming months will publish updated information
More information about obesity treatment is available via the NHS website.
Digital (remote) providers of specialist weight management services who prescribe Wegovy
NHS Cheshire and Merseyside has published a clinical policy that describes the referral criteria and requirements of any services of this nature. This includes a requirement that any provider of specialist weight management services should be able to offer our residents the option of a local face-to-face appointment alongside digital or remote services. This is to ensure that there is no inequality in access to services for patients without access to or confidence in using digital services.