The Health Secretary’s recent announcement at the Labour Party Conference that millions will soon be able to access weight-loss jabs on the NHS has been welcomed by obesity experts — but industry leaders are warning that barriers to access and “cowboy” private firms remain a major concern.
Toby Nicol, Chief Executive at leading weight-loss medication provider CheqUp, described the NHS’s current system as “increasingly absurd” and called for wider access to life-changing treatments.
“Today, the NHS is spending more rejecting patients seeking weight loss medication than it is on providing the medication itself, a reality that is increasingly absurd – even to GPs, who clearly want to prescribe the drugs but cannot under current rules,” Nicol said.
“We want to see as many people as possible who are struggling with obesity gain access to this truly life-changing medication, so today’s announcement is hugely welcome. After the price rise in Mounjaro in September, it is hardly surprising to see GPs reporting an increase in requests, even if those patients stand little chance of getting them through the NHS as it stands. The quicker that can change, the better – but the likely reality is that even under the new rules, millions of patients will still be unable to access the medication they badly need.
“So while we wait to see the detail on this announcement, more needs to be done to ensure that all private providers are held to the highest standards so that patients seeking private care are safe and supported.”
Lisa Baker, Healthcare Writer, who has lost 8 stone with Mounjaro, which she purchased privately, explains:
“When I started taking Mounjaro, I had struggled with arthritis, asthma and pneumonia over the previous 7 months and had never felt so ill in my life. I had a BMI of 44.9 and was prescribed three different blood pressure drugs (and still am) as well as strong painkillers for my arthritis as well as steroids and antibiotics multiple times. I was told that while I met the NICE guidelines for prescribing, there was no pathway to prescribe in our area. I tried dieting but my joints and illness made exercise impossible and no matter what diet I stuck to, I’d slowly lose a stone but not a pound more – after months of trying I would always give up, as it seemed hopeless.”
Now with her current BMI of 25.7 Lisa is very close to target. She explains:
“When I started I was scared I wouldn’t make it through another Winter and sourced Mounjaro from a licensed online pharmacy. It proved to be the right decision for me – 17 months later I am 8 stone lighter and able to exercise again – it’s been great. I work out daily, our weekends are spent taking long walks and I swim several times a week – and I still struggle to lose weight despite being in a calorie deficit and on diet meds!
“I only have four pounds left to achieve a healthy BMI.
“Unfortunately the massive price rise means I have had to switch to an alternative medication, Wegovy, which is a shame when I am so close to target. It has far more side effects and I feel sick constantly but it’s only my first dose. I’m hoping it subsides or I may just find the extra money to go back on Mounjaro.
“Even on the highest dose of Mounjaro, healthy eating and very regular exercise, I’ve recently only managed to lose about a pound a month, my biggest losses came at the beginning – but as I see it, there is no rush and I’m still losing. I count myself lucky because many could not have afforded the medication even prior to the price rise – and it has so much potential to save the NHS a fortune in the long run.
“My highest blood pressure was 240/210 despite me taking three lots of blood pressure meds – and while I am still likely to need the meds for life – my blood pressure is hereditary – however it’s normal now and the meds are working. Without Mounjaro, my story could have been very different.”
Recent research by CheqUp, based on polling of practicing NHS GPs, found that the NHS is wasting twice as much money rejecting patients who do not qualify for weight-loss medication as it spends providing the jabs themselves.
With each 10-minute GP appointment costing an estimated £39, the total waste is thought to reach £786 million annually – more than double the NHS’s £317 million current annual budget for weight-loss injections.
The findings also highlight a growing backlog and patient frustration, with many turning to private options amid warnings of unregulated “cowboy” providers exploiting the surge in demand.
CheqUp’s survey found that 37% of GPs say they waste “a lot of time” turning away patients who do not qualify, while 29% of patients on private weight-loss jabs said they could no longer afford their medication following recent price increases.
The company is urging regulators and policymakers to ensure that any expansion of access to weight-loss medication – whether through the NHS or private clinics – prioritises patient safety, affordability, and fair access.
Sources:
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CheqUp press commentary and research data
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Health Secretary’s announcement at the Labour Party Conference, October 2025