Information:
Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) Information
(Updated 18/06/2025)
Starting 23 June 2025, GPs in the UK will start to be able to prescribe Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) weight loss injections and provide the required patient education and ongoing monitoring. NHS England have instructed that GPs should only start prescribing Mounjaro (for weight loss) when the local integrated care board (ICB) have provided the plans and resources to deliver the service. At present, our local ICB (North East London – NEL ICB) have not yet finalised those plans.
Once NEL ICB have done that, they will then notify local GPs to commence the delivery of the service. The rollout of Mounjaro prescribing will be very gradual and for the first year, NHS England aims to reserve eligibility for those with the highest clinical need. The eligibility criteria is very strict and only 220,000 people across the UK are expected to qualify. At Somerford Grove Practice, with about 12,000 patients, statistically only around 35 may qualify and some of those may already be on weight loss medication.
To qualify, patients must have:
A BMI of 40 or more * You can calculate your own BMI: https://www.nhs.uk/health-assessment-tools/calculate-your-body-mass-index/calculate-bmi-for-adults Alternatively, you may use the Patient Health Monitor (free) in our GP Practice waiting room.
If BMI is above 40, you will also need to have FOUR of the following five criteria.
1. Diagnosed Hypertension
2. Diagnosed Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
3. Diagnosed Type 2 diabetes
4. Diagnosed Cardiovascular disease
5. Diagnosed Hypercholesterolemia
* BMI of 37.5 or more for people from South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean ethnic backgrounds.
If you do not have a BMI above 40* AND four of the listed conditions above, your GP will NOT be able to prescribe you Mounjaro for weight loss. Hence, we request that appointments are not booked for this purpose to avoid blocking access for patients who are unwell and need to be seen by a doctor.
If you do fulfil all the above criteria, please book an appointment with a GP for a review. At present, only secondary care (e.g. hospital) tier 3 specialist weight management services, are able to prescribe Mounjaro.
Should have any queries for NHS ICB on this matter, please contact the Medicines Optimisation team on: nelondonicb.nel-primarycare@nhs.net
