In Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and across the NHS there is different help available depending on the level of support you require to help you in your weight loss journey.
There is support available online including the free NHS Weight Loss Plan which can help you to start losing weight.
We know there are many factors that affect weight and weight loss, and if you need more help and support, NHS Hampshire and the Isle of Wight work with our local authorities and public health teams to deliver programmes of support. Speak to your GP who can help refer you to the right programme.
If after a programme of support you and your GP decide you need to access the next level of help to lose weight, you may be eligible for a higher level of support if you have a BMI of 35 or over with obesity-related complications. Your GP surgery will be able to advise you on the next steps available to you.
There are multiple tiers of help for your weight loss journey depending on the level of support you require and any underlying conditions that may be making it harder to lose weight. Weight loss injections could be one possible part of this support that will become available on the NHS if it suits your individual needs.
Tirzepatide: A new treatment option for managing obesity
Currently across NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight, which includes Portsmouth and Southampton, tirzepatide (Mounjaro®) injections are available for managing weight loss and obesity.
From 23 June 2025, people living with obesity will be able to begin accessing tirzepatide (Mounjaro®) for weight loss purposes in primary care settings. This does not mean prescriptions will be provided immediately. It means primary care settings can begin discussions with patients about whether tirzepatide is the right option to improve their health through weight loss.
Access is prioritised for those with the greatest clinical need, it's for people living with obesity, in poor health with multiple obesity related conditions; as they would benefit most from the treatment.
Who is eligible?
NHS England has identified three groups of patients who will be offered tirzepatide first. These groups will be prioritised from June 2025 until June 2028:
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Cohorts |
Cohort Access Groups |
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|
Comorbidities |
BMI** |
||
|
Year 1 (June 2025 – June 2026) |
Cohort I |
4 or more ‘qualifying’ comorbidities: Hypertension, dyslipidaemia, obstructive sleep apnoea, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus |
Over 40
|
|
Year 2 (July 2026 – March 2027) |
Cohort II |
4 or more ‘qualifying’ comorbidities: Hypertension, dyslipidaemia, obstructive sleep apnoea, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus |
35-39.9 |
|
Year 2/3 (April 2027 – June 2028) |
Cohort III |
3 ‘qualifying’ comorbidities: Hypertension, dyslipidaemia, obstructive sleep apnoea, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus |
Over 40 |
Roll out in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight
Across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, around 1,600 people are in Cohort 1 that meet the national criteria to receive this medication. Since September 2025, GP practices have been contacting eligible patients directly. If you are eligible, your practice will get in touch — so there’s no need to contact your GP.
Further information can be found in the FAQs below:
Tirzepatide (Mounjaro®) will not be accessible to everyone who wishes to use it. People with the highest health risks and who meet the clinical criteria will be prioritised.
From 23 June 2025, people who meet the qualifying criteria (a BMI of at least 40 and four of the five stated weight related comorbidities), are able to gain access to the drug via primary care, if both patient and clinician agree it is the most appropriate treatment option.
See above for the first three groups of patients who will be prioritised.
Across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, around 1,600 people are in Cohort 1 that meet the national criteria to receive this medication. Since September 2025, GP practices have been contacting eligible patients directly. If you are eligible, your practice will get in touch — so there’s no need to contact your GP.
Tirzepatide (also called Mounjaro®) is a weight loss medicine that makes you feel fuller for longer and therefore less hungry. It comes in the form of an injection which you inject yourself, once a week. Your doctor or nurse will show you how to use it.
Any patient prescribed tirzepatide must participate in the specifically designed ‘wraparound’ care required by NICE guidance. This focuses on diet, nutrition and increasing physical activity. NHS England has commissioned a service to provide the wraparound support offer for patients who qualify. Patients cannot be prescribed tirzepatide if they do not wish to undertake the wraparound care support.
Tirzepatide might not be suitable for everyone and not everyone who meets the eligibility criteria will want to use it to support their weight loss. A healthcare professional will discuss the most appropriate care and support, based on individual patient’s need. This could include behavioural support programmes, medical options including prescribing or bariatric surgery.
Normal prescription charges will apply unless you are entitled to free NHS prescriptions (for example, because you have a medical exemption certificate).
