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Weight management medicines have been approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in England. These are now available to people in south east London.

These medicines are called Wegovy® and Mounjaro®. Both medicines are given as subcutaneous (under the skin) injections. The information on this page relates to the injectable form of Wegovy®.

Not everyone will be able to have these medicines straight away. The NHS is making them available first to the people who will benefit the most.

Latest update

The NHS is moving into the next phase of making tirzepatide, also known as Mounjaro®, available for weight management.

Since the end of June 2026, a further group of people who meet the national NHS criteria have become eligible. This is in addition to people included in the first phase of the rollout. NHS England is prioritising access to Mounjaro® through general practice as part of the national approach for 2026/27. People who meet the national NHS criteria will be able to access Mounjaro® through their usual GP practice.

Access is still limited to people who meet the criteria outlined below. This means many people living with obesity will not be eligible at this stage.

Wegovy® subcutaneous injection remains available through specialist weight management services. The information on this page relates to the injectable form of Wegovy®, not a tablet.

Work is being done to develop further access to Wegovy® for reducing the risk of further heart attacks, stoke or peripheral vascular disease events in people living with heart disease. When this becomes available in south east London, further information will be shared.

Who is eligible for weight management medicines in south east London on the NHS?

To be eligible for weight management medicines on the NHS, you must meet specific criteria.

These criteria are based on health need. The NHS is making these medicines available first to people who are most likely to benefit because of the health risks linked to their weight.

There are different routes depending on your health needs and the treatment that may be right for you.

A healthcare professional will check whether you meet the criteria and whether treatment is suitable for you.

National NHS eligibility criteria

You may be eligible for weight management medicines if you:

  • have a body mass index, or BMI, of 35 or more or
  • have a BMI of 32.5 or more if you are from a South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean background

and

  • have four or more of the following weight-related health conditions:
    • high blood pressure
    • high cholesterol
    • cardiovascular disease
    • obstructive sleep apnoea
    • type 2 diabetes

Meeting these criteria does not always mean that treatment will be suitable for you. A healthcare professional will discuss this with you.

Individuals who meet the eligibility criteria could have access to Mounjaro® through their usual GP practice. If Mounjaro® is right for you, you will also be required to join a 9‑month support programme to help with lifestyle changes.

If Wegovy® is right for you, you will be referred to a specialist weight management service and be required to join a support programme provided by the service.

This page will be updated as the NHS rollout continues and more information is confirmed.

Support programme for people prescribed Mounjaro®

If you are prescribed Mounjaro®, you must also take part in a structured support programme.

In south east London, this support is provided by Thrive Tribe in primary care. The programme helps people make longer-term lifestyle changes alongside the medicine. Treatment should not start unless you have been referred into the support programme and have agreed to take part.

If you are referred to a specialist weight management service the support programme will be provided by this service.

South east London urgent access criteria

Some people may need to lose weight quickly for urgent medical reasons. This is a separate route for accessing weight management medicines through specialist weight management services.

You may be eligible if you:

  • have a BMI of 35 or more
  • have a BMI of 32.5 or more if you are from a South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean background

and

  • have at least one weight-related health condition (not restricted to those listed above)

and

  • Need to lose weight urgently for one of the reasons outlined below:
    • you have cancer and need to lose weight to start treatment, such as surgery or radiotherapy
    • you need to lose weight before you can have an organ transplant
    • you have idiopathic intracranial hypertension, also known as IIH, and need regular lumbar punctures or have vision problems
    • you need planned surgery for a serious condition, but your BMI is the main barrier
    • you are under NHS fertility care and need to lose weight to begin fertility treatment
    • you have obesity hypoventilation syndrome, also known as OHS

Your GP practice can refer you to a specialist weight management service if this route is suitable for you.

Alternative sources of support

If you’re not eligible for weight management medicines at this time, there are still services that can help.

  • The NHS Digital Weight Management Programme supports adults living with obesity who also have a diagnosis of diabetes, hypertension, or both. It’s a 12-week online programme that people can access via a smartphone or computer with internet access.
  • Each borough in south east London also has local weight management services (often referred to as Tier 2 weight management services).

Both of these options can be accessed via referral from a GP practice.

We know there’ll be many people who don’t qualify for the weight management medications. This may cause disappointment or make existing mental health and wellbeing issues worse. People may find NHS talking therapies a helpful source of support.

More information about obesity treatment is available via the NHS website.

Is there a new Wegovy® tablet?

Yes, the Wegovy® tablet has been approved for use in the UK. However, it is not currently available on the NHS.

As with all new treatments, decisions about NHS use will follow established processes, including an evaluation by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

The information on this page is about Wegovy® injection, which is given under the skin. It does not cover the tablet form of Wegovy®. Mounjaro® is also currently available as injection only.