Some ICBs have not yet finalised the rollout of the weight loss jab tirzepatide (Mounjaro), which became available to patients from this week (23 June).
In some places, the service is not expected to be in place until the autumn.
Our sister title Pulse has reported that GPs are getting large numbers of patient requests amid the media attention surrounding the rollout of the jab. But some ICBs have put out statements asking patients to not contact their practice about accessing the drug.
In a message to practices this week, Kent and Medway ICB said: ‘Although it has been announced that it will become available in primary care settings from Monday, 23 June (for a specific patient cohort) arrangements are being made to mobilise a provider of the necessary Behavioural Support for Obesity Prescribing (BSOP) that is specified in the NICE guidelines.
‘Until this service is in place in Kent and Medway, it is not possible to prescribe tirzepatide in primary care. Please also note there is no provider of tirzepatide available under right to choose. We are aware that this situation may be difficult for practices to explain to patients.’
In Essex, the ICB said that access to tirzepatide ‘will initially be through Tier 3 weight management services only’, with a rollout in primary care settings ‘planned for later in 2025’.
It advised practices to publish a message on their websites indicating that the national rollout ‘does not mean all people will be able to get a prescription for tirzepatide on this day’.
North West London ICB advised patients that tirzepatide ‘may not yet be available in all areas’.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB said that the drug will not be available locally ‘until the autumn’, and added: ‘Please don’t contact your GP just yet as they’re unable to help currently.’
Derby and Derbyshire ICB also asked patients not to contact their GP, as the drug would ‘not be available in Derby and Derbyshire until later in the year’.
It said: ‘From 23 June, people living with obesity may be eligible to access tirzepatide (Mounjaro®) for weight loss purposes in primary care settings.
‘This does not mean prescriptions will be provided immediately. It means primary care settings can begin discussions with patients about whether tirzepatide is the right option to improve their health through weight loss.’
Similarly, in Cheshire and Merseyside the ICB told patients not to contact practices about it until a new community-based weight management service is established.
Humber and North Yorkshire ICB said it is ‘still finalising the details of the prescribing model’ and wraparound care that will be introduced as part of the rollout.
‘In the meantime, people should not ask their GP practice or pharmacy about getting tirzepatide on the NHS via prescription until the new community service has been brought in,’ the ICB added in a statement.
In Sussex, the ICB told patients that the process will be managed through practices ‘directly contacting people who are eligible’, but that this does not mean that prescriptions will be given out immediately.
And Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire ICB stated it is ‘currently working with colleagues in primary care’ to ensure this new treatment is offered to those patients who fulfil this criteria.
‘At this time, patients are kindly asked not to contact their GP practice with requests for weight loss treatment,’ it added.
Sarah Walter, director of the NHS Confederation’s Integrated Care Systems Network, said: ‘We are aware in some areas that integrated care boards (ICB) are still in the process of agreeing local enhanced services for the weight-loss jabs, with the funding based on the number of eligible patients in an ICB area that meet the NICE criteria.
‘ICBs and GP practices will be working together ensure the public is made aware of who is eligible, what treatments will be offered, and when they will become available.’
An NHS England spokesperson said: ‘NHS England has published guidance for ICBs to support the rollout of tirzepatide to treat obesity – and, from this week, the treatment will start to become available nationally for eligible patients, based on the highest healthcare need.
‘To deliver the phased rollout of tirzepatide, funding has been provided to all ICBs to support treatment costs and enable the scaling of services in primary and community care.’
Provision of the weekly injection in primary care was initially recommended by NICE last summer, but NHSE made a request for a slower, phased rollout of tirzepatide in order to avoid overwhelming GPs.
NICE accepted this request in its final guidance, and instructed the national commissioner to ensure the drug is made available via specialist weight management services within three months, and via primary care within six months.
As it stands, around 220,000 patients will be eligible for the weight-loss injections in primary care over the first three years.
A version of this story was first published on our sister title Pulse.
