NHS 'not ready' for weight loss drugs
A weight loss programme in North Cumbria can prescribe weight loss drugs like Ozempic to 10% of patients due to strict eligibility criteria.
Pears Cumbria Medical School hosted a webinar on obesity, focusing on weight management and appetite suppressing drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro.
Professor Tricia Tan explained that these drugs, known as GLP-1 agonists, simulate the effect of the GLP-1 hormone, naturally produced after eating.
- Doctor Ishara Ranathunga noted a rise in demand for the NHS weight loss programme in North Cumbria.
- 3,274 patients have been taken on since 2024, with over 3,740 referrals made during that period.
Author's summary: NHS struggles with weight loss drug prescriptions.