NHS access (England)
GLP-1 medicines for weight management on the NHS are restricted to specialist weight-management services (Tier 3 and above). The relevant NICE technology appraisals are:
- TA875 (semaglutide / Wegovy) — full guidance. BMI thresholds, comorbidity criteria, and a two-year duration cap apply.
- TA1026 (tirzepatide / Mounjaro) — full guidance. Phased rollout via NHS specialist services.
Devolved nations (Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland) have their own assessment bodies (SMC, AWMSG, etc.); access routes vary.
Private prescription
Private clinics and online pharmacies can lawfully prescribe Wegovy and Mounjaro when the patient is assessed by a GMC-registered prescriber. Useful checks before engaging a private provider:
- The prescriber is on the GMC register and has appropriate scope for weight-management prescribing.
- The pharmacy dispensing is on the GPhC register (or, for Northern Ireland, PSNI).
- There is a structured assessment — not a tick-box online form — covering medication history, mental health, contraindications, and follow-up.
- The clinic does not source from non-UK supply chains or supply unlicensed “compounded semaglutide”. Counterfeit GLP-1 pens have been flagged by the MHRA.
What we deliberately do not provide
- A price-per-pen comparison table. Prices change weekly and a comparison nudges you to the cheapest, not the safest.
- Direct purchase links to specific clinics. We don’t rank or recommend providers.
- Workarounds for the NHS eligibility criteria. NICE thresholds are deliberate; “below the bar” use needs a clinician, not a website tool.