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Patient Update: Mounjaro® and Weight Loss Injection Guidance
National Announcement – 23 June 2025
As reported by the BBC, Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is now available via selected GP services across the NHS for a limited number of eligible patients.
The national announcement on 23 June 2025 - Mounjaro weight loss jab available at GPs - to select few - BBC News
Tirzepatide, also known as Mounjaro®, is a GLP1/GIP agonist. Other medications such as semaglutide (Wegovy®), Liraglutide (Saxenda®), are known as GLP-1 agonists. Both types of drug work in the same way and mimic gut hormones released by the body after eating, telling the brain you are full and slowing down the time it takes the stomach to empty.
Access to Mounjaro® (tirzepatide) via the NHS is for those at greatest risk of ill health, or who are experiencing severe ill health due to living with obesity.
This means that in order to get weight loss medicines, you must meet following criteria.
- You must be overweight with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more (or 37.5 or more if you’re of South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean origin) and:
- Have 4 or more of the following weight related health conditions: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, obstructive sleep apnoea or type 2 diabetes or
- Have at least 1 weight related health condition and you need to lose weight urgently for a specified life limiting reason such as cancer treatment or organ transplant surgery.
The announcement on 23 June ‘Access’ on 23 June does not mean people will be able to get a prescription for Mounjaro® (tirzepatide) on that day. People living with obesity who meet the criteria will be able to explore with their healthcare professional whether this is the right treatment for them.
A new service is being developed so that eligible patients can access this medication through a dedicated primary care pathway. However, this new service is not yet available. Cohorts of patients who are eligible will be centrally identified and contacted. We’ll let you know the exact start date as soon as it’s confirmed. Please note that the medication cannot be started through individual GP practices and cannot be prescribed by them.
In the meantime, if you are eligible for weight loss medications, your GP will be able to refer you to a specialist weight loss service who are able to prescribe the medication for you.
For more information please contact North-East London ICB here.
Published: Jun 25, 2025
