Can the Dr prescribe weight loss injections?

[Heyupkiddo]

What is the criteria?

For example, if I go to my Dr-nhs or private, are they able to prescribe it and I don’t pay full value?

My bmi is 29/30 and I have chronic kidney stones, never used to be like this years ago, was a slim gym girl.

If they’re not able to, are you able to buy it over the counter at the chemist?

And you’d need to lie to the prescriber as they ask all these questions.
im not sure of the point your making. Most drugs can be obtained illegally.

Yes fair enough. I personally support this.

I do think a lot of people think it’s a free for all.

Of course it’s appropriate, the OP has existing health conditions and requires a medical opinion , for which she is entitled to go to her GP.

Most suppliers want a photograph and sometimes proof of identity. So they have your stated BMI and visual evidence to go by.

But it’s not. The costs of private profiteering going wrong often falls on the NHS (failed plastic surgery, overdoses of supplements/wonderfood cocktails, dodgy treatments abroad etc) and that affects everyone who pays their taxes or is waiting longer for treatment

And what about all the money the NHS will save by people paying out of their own pockets to treat their obesity and related physical and mental health problems? I hope you have also given due consideration to those?

But this is nothing like such unnecessary and concerning examples. This is an excellent and effective treatment that will save the NHS so much resource it's almost unfathomable.

So quite the opposite of your examples.

Talking to your GP about your weight is entirely appropriate. Taking up a GP appt to discuss details of whether a treatment not available on the NHS would work for you isn't. You have access to your records, discuss it with the private prescriber.

(I'm an NHS GP BTW. we are slammed doing our job and the world asking us to do their work for them doesn't help)

The OP has bad kidneys. She cannot take these injections because of it and this thread is littered with posts telling her how to go about it. Right down to lying to get it.

What do you think will happen NHS wise when the inevitable happens?

Not quite the opposite of any examples.

wow , this is the opinion of an actual gp 😳

A GP who needs to spend her time seeing the patients she is contracted to see, not doing a private company's work for them to maximise their profits. They should be able to fet your medical history and review it all by themselves.

We get tens of these letters a day..do you want to be the patient I dont have time to see because I'm busy going through them? Thought not.

its not about a private company maximising their profits though is it? And anyway I’m sure said private company would be more than happy to do that work- they do do their own screening etc.- and not trying to offload onto you.

it’s about the OP’s health and whether she would feel more comfortable talking things through in person with a GP she knows and trusts.

You could have responded to her post with something supportive to the effect of - the provider might be best placed to advise since they are prescribing , but instead you responded that it would be “innapropriate” for her to take up her GPs time with something “she wants to do privately”. As if it were that trivial, or she is being unreasonable and entitled for wanting medication to support her health and wellbeing.

I’m honestly appalled , but I shouldn’t be surprised really.

Actually @Tubetrain I’m not sure I’d want to see you at all , but as you are a she and all the GPs I see are male I think I’m safe . You do realise that you don’t have to be a GP , nobody is forcing you to do it .

Here here 👏🏻

Yes. I want to be a GP, and use my expertise to help my patients, as I was doing today.

Not to be a lackey for a private company so they don't have to pay their own dr.

Again, are you happy to know that the reason you didn't get an appt is that several have been cancelled so the dr can spend time going through these letters? Because that's the consequence of what you're saying?

My GP won’t/can’t prescribe it for me, even though my BMI is 53 and I have health concerns related to my weight. They said it’s not available in my area. He referred me to a weight clinic in Liverpool with a really long waitlist but when I looked at their website it says they aren’t offering the weight injections. So I’ve ordered privately, I’m using private pension money.

Yes it is absolutely about maximising their profits. They could.do these reviews but it would cost them, so they won't.

Can't
Not won't

What “reviews”?
Plenty of people go on these drugs and need nothing whatsoever from the GP. I know they send endless letters (presumably just to cover their own backs as people are constantly moaning about the lack of safeguards)- but don’t GPs just ignore the letters, or tell the patient to deal with it themselves? That’s been my experience anyway.

I can always get a phone call or text with my GP thank you .

I do kind of see your point but also think patients shouldn’t suffer due to the lack of GPs and GP appointments.

If I was the OP and had a health condition which I disclosed to the likes of MedExpress would I necessarily trust the medexpress doctor to give me the correct information? Or would I be concerned they might be keen to maximise their employer’s profits and say it’s ok even if might not be?

would i actually want the opportunity to talk to a doctor who I trust and have a relationship with and be able to ask questions?

you might think it’s not your job but it’s holistic care for someone on your books and would potentially (if safe) improve their health and reduce their burden to the nhs including less appointments needed with you in the future? 🤷‍♀️

Exactly. But it’s crazy when the government is full of “let’s roll this out to all fat people…” and I can’t get it with my high BMI. It’s either available on the NHS for morbidly obese patients, or it isn’t. And currently it would seem it isn’t. I’d much rather get it and get monitored via my GP who I like and trust, than privately.

Same. ❤️

Does anyone else think it's madness that folk are wanting to take WLI with a BMI of 29? These drugs have side effects and potential complications, worth the risk if you have a BMI over over 35/40 but (imo) not worth the risk for a couple of stone .. that is probably not having an impact on health.

Incorrect! I’m prescribed Wegovy for weight loss on the NHS