Important Update on Weight Loss Treatment – Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) please read before contacting the practice

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You may have seen in the media that from 23 June 2025, some GP practices can begin offering a new NHS treatment called Tirzepatide (Mounjaro). This is a positive step forward but please note that this treatment is not available at The Weardale Practice.

The Weardale Practice have started to receive enquiries about the medicine by phone and via the online new and existing condition forms – please do not use these forms to request an appointment for the medicine. We will contact patients who are eligible. Patients using the online forms are reducing the availability of forms for other patients.

If and when the treatment is available at The Weardale Practice, it does not mean the medicine will be prescribed straight away or available immediately. This treatment is only available to people who have certain medical conditions. If the medicine is suitable for eligible patients, patients have to agree to participate in a wrap-around service and attend monthly review appointments with a GP and HCA.

We are not in a position to offer assessments or prescriptions, we kindly ask that you do not contact the practice to ask about Mounjaro for weight-loss.

We have less than ten patients who meet the current criteria.

Patients who have been paying privately for Mounjaro will need to continue to do so unless they meet the eligibility criteria in the future.

You can find lots of useful information about Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) on this page. This includes details about who is eligible and other options to support you with weight loss. 

Who can get this treatment?

Tirzepatide will only be offered to people who have the highest clinical need, this means those whose health is most affected by obesity and who are likely to benefit the most.

To be considered for this treatment, you must:

  • Have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or more, and
  • Have at least four of the following health conditions:
    • High blood pressure
    • High cholesterol or high fat levels in the blood
    • Sleep apnoea (trouble breathing while asleep)
    • Heart disease
    • Type 2 diabetes

Important things to know

  • You will need a full clinical assessment.
  • Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) will only be given as part of a full NHS care plan. This includes referral to a wrap around care programme to support with healthy eating and lifestyle changes.
  • Other NHS weight management services are still available and may be more suitable for you.

Will everyone who qualifies be able to get it?

Not everyone who qualifies will get Tirzepatide (Mounjaro®) right away. Some people may not want to use it, and it might not be the best choice for everyone.

In Phase 1, only people who meet the new rules will be offered the medicine. The rules may change in later phases.

Other NHS weight services and surgery will still be available if needed.

What should you do If I think I’m eligible?

Please wait for the practice to contact you if you think you qualify for Tirzepatide (Mounjaro®).

The ICB\NHS are setting up new weight loss services in the local area, but this will take time and the dates for this new service are not currently available.

If you are already with a specialist weight service, they may be able to prescribe Tirzepatide (Mounjaro®) shortly, if you qualify.

If you do not meet the new NHS rules, you will not be able to get Tirzepatide (Mounjaro®) through the NHS.

Other support for losing weight

If you do not qualify for Tirzepatide (Mounjaro®) on the NHS, your GP practice can still help you with:

  • NHS health checks – for weight and other health problems
  • Diet and exercise advice
  • Support services – like NHS weight loss programmes, Diabetes prevention or remission programmes and local authority schemes where available

You can also try these NHS tools:

Want to learn more?

Here are some helpful NHS pages with more information: