27/06/2025
Update on Weight-Loss Medication: Tirzepatide (Mounjaro®)
Some patients may now be able to get a new weight-loss medicine called tirzepatide (Mounjaro®) through the NHS. It will not be available to everyone. People who are at the highest risk of health problems and who meet certain medical rules will be given priority.
In Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes (BLMK), people may be able to get this medicine through their GP if:
Their BMI is 40 or higher, or 37.5 or higher if they are from a minority ethnic background.
They have four or more of the following health conditions:
Type 2 diabetes
High blood pressure
Heart disease
Obstructive sleep apnoea
Abnormal blood fats (called dyslipidaemia)
Important things to know:
You must talk with your GP or healthcare team to decide if this treatment is right for you.
You cannot get the medicine directly from your GP right away. Your GP will need to refer you to a specialist weight management service.
BLMK ICB, will offer community-based programmes via their provider Xyla.
The medicine will only be given with support to help people eat healthier and become more active.
This medicine is being rolled out slowly across England, so NHS services can manage demand safely.
Over the next three years, around 220,000 people in England will be given access to tirzepatide, if they meet the right criteria.
To learn more, and to read answers to common questions, please visit:
On 23 December 2024 the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published the Technology Appraisal in relation to tirzepatide (Mounjaro™) which is a new drug for managing obesity.This medication will not be available in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes for several months, as ...