Following various media reports, we are getting a lot of requests from patients who are overweight but not diabetic asking for the “weight loss injection”
There are 2 injections NICE has approved for weight loss
- WEGOVY (NOT Ozempic)- semagultide that is licensed for weight loss only (and is 3 x stronger than Ozempic) for those with BMI > 35 and at least 1 related comorbidity
- SAXENDA is liraglutide licensed for weight loss only (and is 3 x stronger than Victoza)
WEGOVY has NOT been approved locally for weight loss yet so we CANNOT prescribe this.
SAXENDA has strict criteria to qualify ( link here) and you had to start with a diet and lifestyle programme first before you can join the waiting list. THIS SERVICE IS SUSPENDED CURRENTLY due to demand, funding and staffing issues.
Below is a list of services available for weight loss locally and how to be referred
Tier 1 – General health promotion via One You Cheshire East
There is also information on the Live Well website including a directory of weight related services: https://oneyoucheshireeast.org/
▪ Tier 2 – One You Cheshire East – 12 week weight management offer:
https://oneyoucheshireeast.org/lose-weight/:
→ Eligibility for the weight management programme is a BMI of 25 or more (eligibility under the NHS Weight Management DES is a BMI of 30+). There is no upper limit, although patients with a BMI of 40+ may be more suitable for more specialist support
→ Eligible patients can also be referred to the NHS Digital Weight Management Programme (https://www.england.nhs.uk/digital-weight-management/) 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
→ Eligible patients (hba1c 42-47) can also be referred to the National Diabetes Prevention Programme (https://healthieryou.reedwellbeing.com/)
PLEASE use the online portal to let us know if you wish to be referred to the tier 2 service
▪ Tier 3 – Specialist weight management service (SWMS) provided across Cheshire East by CCICP.
12-24 months for patients BMI > 40 , >35 with comorbidities, recent onset DM and ethnic minorities. (at moment they have suspended Saxenda referrals – probably due to chronic shortages of the drug) - service suspended as noted above
▪ Tier 4 – Bariatric Surgery.
Delivered by Royal Stoke University Hospital (University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust). Where appropriate and where patients have successfully completed Tier 3, patients can be referred to Royal Stoke University Hospital for surgical assessment and surgery under their care