Thousands of patients miss out on weight loss jab due to NHS ‘postcode lottery’
The struggle to access weight-loss jabs from NHS
- Thousands of obese patients in England are unable to access the weight loss jab Mounjaro due to a “postcode lottery” in NHS provision.
- Data obtained by Sky News reveals only 8 of 42 NHS Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) in England are currently able to provide the treatment, despite its intended availability from 23 June.
- Doctors warn patients are being “set up for failure”, with claims that NHS England has only funded treatment for a fraction of the 97,500 patients NICE calculated should be treated in the first year.
- NHS England stated it has “fully supported the rollout”, issuing guidance and providing funding to ICBs in March to cover treatment costs and support services.
- Concerns also exist regarding post-treatment support, with NICE stressing the need for structured follow-up for NHS patients to prevent weight regain, a service not available to the 1.5 million private users.