Obesity care ‘insufficient’ as patients wait up to five years for care – Wales Online
Support for people living with obesity is “insufficient”, according to experts following a new report that highlighted patients waiting for up to five years for specialist support. Some specialist overweight and obesity management services are under such strain that they have had to close their waiting lists completely. The Obesity Health Alliance (OHA) noted that most individuals who are overweight or living with obesity are not receiving the recommended level of support from weight management services. The organisation, a coalition of 60 health charities and medical royal colleges, warned that the “unprecedented” demand for new weight loss drugs will further strain these already overstretched services.
NHS England boss Amanda Pritchard emphasised that the introduction of these “game-changing” drugs could overwhelm services without significant transformation. Addressing staff, Ms Pritchard acknowledged that obesity is a significant public health concern. The OHA has called for an independent review of obesity services to ensure patients receive necessary care, as they claim that current provision is inadequate and inaccessible to a considerable number of people. Their report revealed that obesity pharmacotherapy can only be accessed through specialist overweight and obesity management services, which are unable to keep up with the demand, resulting in waiting lists of up to five years and some services closing to referrals due to capacity exceeding demand.
The Alliance urged Health Secretary Wes Streeting to review existing NHS obesity services to identify challenges and present a case for expanding treatment access. They also called for the Government to ensure local health bodies offer recommended care levels to prevent regional disparities in care. Alfie Slade, government affairs lead at the Obesity Health Alliance, stressed the need for urgent intervention to meet the needs of patients and avoid worsening health inequalities. Leading politicians have suggested that weight loss jabs could benefit both the nation’s health and economy.
Officials have announced plans for trials to assess the impact of a weight loss treatment on worklessness and NHS burden. A five-year trial in Manchester will assess the effectiveness of Mounjaro, a weight-loss jab also known as tirzepatide, manufactured by Lilly. The drug has shown promising results, with people losing 21% of their body weight over 36 weeks. The NHS plans to roll out the drug gradually due to anticipated high demand, expecting nearly a quarter of a million individuals to receive it over the next three years. Despite this, the phased access could extend over 12 years due to cost implications and insufficient primary care services to support all eligible people.
Mounjaro belongs to a family of medications that help manage blood sugar, used in treating type 2 diabetes and obesity. Supply issues for these medicines have been reported recently. Data from the Health Survey for England in 2022 indicated that 29% of adults were obese, with 64% overweight or living with obesity. The Department of Health and Social Care highlighted obesity as a preventable cause of significant NHS costs and economic burden, with obesity drugs potentially easing these pressures. The NHS assured collaboration with the Government and industry to roll out approved treatments safely and affordably, without compromising other care services.