Weight Management Drugs – Mounjaro

The BBC recently reported that GP surgeries within England will now be able to prescribe Mounjaro on the NHS, for the purposes of Weight Management treatment.

Please note, Abbey Medical Centre is governed by NHS England guidance, as well guidance from NHS Coventry & Warwickshire ICB. We are only permitted to prescribe medications in line with the local formulary approved by the ICB. Whilst Mounjaro is on the ICB approved list, GP surgeries have to follow a strict criteria when prescribing this medication. This criteria is below:

• a BMI of 40 or over (or 37.5 if from a minority ethnic background)
• and four out of five of the following conditions
  • type 2 diabetes
  • high blood pressure
  • heart and vascular disease
  • high cholesterol
  • obstructive sleep apnoea

If patients are eligible for the medication, they will be referred to a specialist primary care weight management clinic who will then begin the treatment for the patient. The patient must also engage with a NHS England commissioned wraparound care support package as part of the treatment.

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NHS Coventry & Warwickshire ICB Policy as of 23/06/2025

To ensure fair and sustainable access, the NHS is carefully planning how to integrate Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) and other GLP-1 agonists into weight management services. In Coventry and Warwickshire, the ICB are undertaking a full review of our obesity care pathways. This work is essential to provide the necessary capacity and support for patients who may benefit from these treatments.

What This Means for You

• NHS referrals: If you need support with weight management, you can be referred to existing combined tier 3 or tier 4 weight management services through your GP
• Private treatment: While private clinics may offer weight loss medications, the NHS will not take over the prescribing or monitoring of these treatments
• “Right to Choose” Providers: We are aware that at least one “right to choose” provider, Oviva, is promoting its online weight loss service directly to patients. Coventry and Warwickshire ICB does not commission Oviva or any other “right to choose” weight management provider at present, because we do not consider their offer to be consistent with our approach and policy to weight loss services in Coventry and Warwickshire.

Why Are The ICB Taking This Approach?

With around 65% of adults in Coventry and Warwickshire being classified as overweight or obese, demand for these medications is expected to be high. By developing robust systems and pathways, we aim to:

• Prioritise patients most in need
• Ensure safety and proper lifestyle support alongside medication
• Deliver a fair and consistent service

The Mounjaro injections for weight loss will be delivered by a new weight management service that is envisaged to go live from late Autumn 2025 at the earliest. No referrals from Primary Care (GP surgeries) can be made until this service is available. Further information can found on the NHS Coventry & Warwickshire ICB website here – Weight Management Drugs – Happy Healthy Lives.