SUMMER NEWSLETTER FROM THE WEARDALE PRACTICE
Important Update on Weight Loss Treatment – Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) please read before
contacting the practice
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 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. 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 also only available to
people who have certain medical conditions. If the medicine is suitable for the eligible patients,
patients have to agree to participate in a wrap-around service and attend monthly review
appointments with a GP and HCA.
As 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
this unless they meet
eligibility criteria in the
future.
You can find lots of useful information about Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) in this newsletter 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 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:
NHS Weight Loss Plan App
www.nhs.uk/better-health/lose-weight/
NHS Couch to 5K
www.nhs.uk/better-health/get-active/get-running-with-couch-to-5k/
NHS Active 10 Walking Tracker
https://tinyurl.com/22dsaj7r
NHS Food Scanner
www.nhs.uk/healthier-families/food-facts/nhs-food-scanner-app
Changes to the online GP registration service in response to the Infected Blood Inquiry
recommendations
NHS England has committed to implementing the recommendations of the Infected Blood Inquiry,
through identifying all those infected with a blood-borne disease, however it is transmitted, and set
out plans to introduce changes into the new online GP registration service to support delivery of this
recommendation.
New patients born before 1996 who use the online GP registration service will be asked if they
received a blood transfusion prior to that year. Where new patients indicate they have, GP practices
will follow up during the new patient health check – or opportunistically to discuss, offer or signpost
to hepatitis C testing.
Changes to Cervical Screening intervals
From July, younger women (aged 25 to 49) who test negative for HPV, meaning they are at very low
risk of cervical cancer over the next 10 years, will safely be invited at 5-year intervals rather than 3,
in line with major clinical evidence.
Those whose sample indicates the presence of HPV or who have a recent history of HPV, which
causes nearly all cervical cancers, will continue to be invited to more frequent screenings to check
HPV has cleared and if not, if any cell changes have developed.
The move follows a recommendation by the UK National Screening Committee, and is the approach
already used for women aged 50 to 64 in England.
https://www.england.nhs.uk/2025/06/nhs-rolls-out-more-personalised-cervical-screening-for-
millions/
