Demand for specialist weight management services has increased nationally over the past 18 months, and in mid and south Essex the demand for these services has exceeded the number of NHS funded places available for residents. As a result, patients could be at risk of waiting several years to access the service. 

Updating the access criteria for this service is necessary to make sure that the service remains available to those with the greatest clinical need, and to prevent people from waiting too long and risking their health will deteriorate while they wait.  

There are a range of weight loss and weight management programmes available, and healthcare professionals will be encouraging all patients to explore these alternative services. 

The service is available to adults (aged 18 or over) who are registered with a GP practice in mid and south Essex, or who reside in mid and south Essex (if unregistered). Referrals will only be accepted from a GP.

The eligibility criteria is as follows: 

• Residents aged 18+ with a BMI ≥40.0 AND meet at least one of the following criteria:  
• Have obstructive sleep apnoea, severe asthma, cor pulmonale, obesity hypoventilation syndrome, or receive CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) 
• Have ischaemic heart disease, heart failure, or a *QRISK score >20% 
• Have a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus 
• Have subfertility 
• Have oesophagitis, severe gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, or Barrett’s oesophagus.  
• Confirmation that a Tier 2 weight management programme has been completed within 12 months of the date of referral, unless the patient’s GP has confirmed that Tier 2 is not suitable or appropriate for the individual. 

*QRISK is a clinical scoring tool used to assess risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease.

Exclusion criteria also apply:

• Aged 17 years or under 
• Pregnant or breastfeeding 
• Active eating disorders 
• Have undergone bariatric surgery in the past 12 months 
• Pre-diabetes more appropriate for the NHS diabetes prevention programme 
• Previously attended a Tier 3 weight management programme in the last 2 years from date of discharge 
• Referrals can be made once the following conditions are stable:
  • Alcohol or drug use 
  • Hypothyroidism 
  • Cushing’s syndrome 
  • Mental illness  

Patients who do not meet the new criteria will receive a letter directly from the service provider in their area to let them know about the status of their referral and will be provided with information on alternative available support services. 

Patients who meet the new criteria will be accepted onto the programme over the next few months, subject to capacity.  

Referrals into the service remain closed until 2025. Only referrals for patients who meet the new criteria will be accepted when referrals reopen in 2025.

In the meantime, details of alternative services available to support residents are listed here.

If you are confident that you meet the new eligibility criteria and you have been removed from the waiting list, you can speak to your GP who will be able to confirm if you meet the new criteria. They will be able to re-refer you if that is the case. 

Only patients who were already on the waiting list as of 1 January 2024 will be able to be re-referred into the service. New patients requesting referrals will be eligible via referral from their GP when referrals re-open in 2025. 

There are a range of healthy lifestyle programmes available in mid and south Essex to help you achieve a healthy weight. Many of these you can refer yourself into. 

There are also structured weight management programmes you can only access via a referral from your GP. 

Click here for more information on available support and services.

In mid and south Essex, and in line with NICE guidance, Wegovy™ is only available through specialist Tier 3 weight management services. It is not available via GP prescription or other weight management services. 

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