Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) service
Last Updated: Wednesday, 18 February 2026GP Weight Loss Injection Prescriptions
Tirzepatide, also known as Mounjaro®, can now be prescribed for patients with the greatest health risks. This does not mean prescriptions will be provided immediately.
Patients do not need to contact their GP. Eligible patients will be identified through qualifying criteria and contacted to discuss whether it is the right option to help them. Patients will then be invited into SWAGGA PCN’s Enhanced Access clinic, on a Saturday, for an initial consultation with a specialist practice nurse.
Who is eligible?
To access NHS weight loss injection prescriptions, patients need to be aged 18 and over, have a body mass index (BMI) of at least 40 and at least four of the following five weight-related long-term health conditions:
- type 2 diabetes
- high blood pressure
- heart disease
- obstructive sleep apnoea
- abnormal blood fats (dyslipidaemia)
Qualifying Comorbidities:
|
Comorbidities |
Definition |
|
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) |
Established Atherosclerotic CVD (Ischaemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, heart failure) |
|
Hypertension |
Established diagnosis of hypertension and requiring blood pressure lowering therapy |
|
Dyslipidaemia |
Threated with lipid-lowering therapy, or with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) > 4.1 mmol/L, or high-density lipoprotein (HDL) < 1.0 mmol/L for men or HDL < 1.3 mmol/L for women, or fasting (where possible) triglycerides > 1.7 mmol/L |
|
Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) |
Established diagnosis of OSA (sleep clinic confirmation via sleep study) and treatment indicated i.e. meets criteria for CPAP or equivalent |
|
Type 2 diabetes |
Established type 2 diabetes |
Definitions can be found in the NHS England Interim Commissioning Policy.
**NB For patients with any form of diabetes who are under the care of a specialist in diabetes, the specialist should be consulted before starting tirzepatide.
The patient must also agree to take part in additional lifestyle support as part of their treatment. Both the patient and the healthcare professional need to agree that weight loss medication is the most appropriate treatment option for them.
Frequently asked questions
What is Tirzepatide (Mounjaro)?
Tirzepatide (Mounjaro®) is a new medicine that helps people lose weight. It works by making you feel full, so you don’t eat as much.
Tests have shown that when used alongside healthy eating and exercise, people can lose up to 20% of their body weight. It’s a weekly injection that you give yourself, but it must be part of a weight loss programme and prescribed by a qualified healthcare professional.
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.
What should I do if I think I’m eligible?
Patients in the SWAGGA PCN network who are eligible for Tirzepatide (Mounjaro®) will be contacted. There is no need to contact your GP practice and you will not be able to get Tirzepatide if you do not meet the criteria above. If you do meet the criteria, you will be contacted in due course by the PCN team, and the GP cannot make this happen any sooner.
Other support for losing weight
If you don’t qualify for Tirzepatide (Mounjaro®) on the NHS, there is still a range of support available to you.
Visit https://www.cheshireandmerseyside.nhs.uk/your-health/prescribing/statements/mounjaro-tirzepatide/local-weight-management-services/ to find out what services are available or fill out the form in the following link to speak with a social prescriber https://www.swaggapcn.nhs.uk/social-prescribing/social-prescriber-form/
Want to learn more?
Here are some helpful NHS pages with more information:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/obesity
https://www.england.nhs.uk/medicines-for-obesity