Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) Information 

From 23 June 2025, GPs in the UK will be permitted to prescribe Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) injections to support weight loss, alongside providing patient education and regular monitoring.

However, NHS England has made it clear that GPs can only begin offering this service once local integrated care boards (ICBs) have put the necessary resources and plans in place.

Currently, North East London ICB (NEL ICB), which covers our area, has not yet finalised the local implementation plans. Until those plans are confirmed, GPs in this area, including our practice, will not be able to prescribe Mounjaro for weight loss purposes. Once NEL ICB has completed this work, they will inform local practices, and GPs can then start delivering the service gradually, prioritising those with the highest clinical need.

Eligibility for Mounjaro under the NHS will be extremely limited during the first year of rollout, with strict criteria designed to prioritise individuals most at risk due to their weight and related health conditions.

To qualify for a prescription of Mounjaro for weight loss, patients must meet the following criteria:

• A Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or more

  You can calculate your BMI online via the NHS website here: BMI Calculator.

• Ethnic Adjusted BMI:
  For individuals from South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African, or African-Caribbean backgrounds, the BMI threshold is reduced to 37.5 or more due to higher health risks associated with weight in these groups.

In addition to meeting the BMI requirement, patients must also have at least four of the following five conditions:

1. Hypertension (diagnosed high blood pressure)
2. Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
3. Type 2 Diabetes
4. Cardiovascular Disease
5. Hypercholesterolemia (diagnosed high cholesterol)

If you do not meet the BMI threshold and have at least four of the listed medical conditions, your GP will not be able to prescribe Mounjaro for weight loss under NHS guidelines. We kindly ask patients to avoid booking GP appointments solely to request Mounjaro unless they are certain they meet the above strict eligibility criteria, to ensure appointment availability for those with immediate medical needs.

For those who believe they meet all the requirements, you may book an appointment with a GP for a review once the service has been launched locally. Until then, Mounjaro can only be prescribed by hospital-based Tier 3 specialist weight management services.

We appreciate your understanding and patience as this service is rolled out in a phased and clinically prioritised manner.

Published: Jun 30, 2025