Mounjaro in Falkirk: NHS Forth Valley Access and Support

The NHS pilot for Mounjaro in Falkirk

NHS Forth Valley’s adult service page says the board began testing a limited pathway for medicines such as tirzepatide in February 2026. It has filled the places it planned to offer and is evaluating the service. Check that page if you’ve seen an earlier announcement about the trial or heard that someone was invited. It is the local source for whether new referrals are being accepted.

A trial reaching capacity is a service decision. It doesn’t tell you whether a medicine would suit your health. If you’re already under the pilot team, use the contact details you were given to ask about your appointments or treatment. If you weren’t referred and are looking for help now, start with the adult service and ask about the programmes available today.

An adult weight management appointment and a medication review are different. Ask which service you’re speaking to, especially if you received a message about diabetes or already see a dietitian. Tirzepatide can be used for type 2 diabetes as well as weight management. The pilot notice here concerns weight management.

Help you can request yourself

Adults in Falkirk and elsewhere in Forth Valley can look through the NHS Forth Valley weight management programmes. Some have their own criteria. You can use the adult service self-referral form to ask about support. The team can discuss what fits your circumstances.

Body mass index, or BMI, is one measure programmes can use. It is calculated from your height and weight. Some programmes also consider medical conditions or whether a particular type of support suits you. If a form asks for information you don’t have, ask the team what it needs. You can tell it if you would prefer to speak to someone about the options before choosing.

Tell the team what you want help with first. You might struggle to plan meals around late shifts or want to find an activity you can do with joint pain. If you have restrictions from your clinician, say what those are. The service can help you find a programme that takes them into account or point you to a different team.

How to choose a programme in Falkirk

Check the service area and what the appointments involve. NHS Forth Valley offers support across the area and with online partners. If a session is advertised elsewhere in Scotland, confirm who it’s for before applying. A programme run by a different NHS board may use different criteria, even if it has a similar name.

You may find it useful to ask a few questions before your first session.

• Can I attend in person, by phone or online, and are there sessions I can fit around work or caring?
• Do I need a recent weight or other information from my GP?
• What can I do if a condition makes exercise hard or I already follow a diet for medical reasons?
• Who can I contact if I miss a session or have trouble with the format?

If there’s a choice between a group and another form of support, think about which would make it easier to take part. Some people want a regular slot with others, while others need an appointment they can arrange around different shifts. Tell the team if you tried a programme before and explain why it was difficult to continue.

The options differ in format. Second Nature uses an app and needs access to a smartphone, tablet or computer. The board’s Counterweight groups include an online dietitian-led option and a group with an activity session, with Grangemouth among the venues it lists. Ask which groups are running and when you could attend. If you would need help with the technology or want an activity adapted, tell the team before choosing.

Forth Valley also describes individual support where a group is unsuitable or someone needs adjustments. It lists Falkirk and Stirling Community Hospitals as venues and says phone or video appointments may be possible. Ask about an assessment if you need this kind of support. The service can explain whether you would be offered a group with adjustments or individual appointments.

Can your GP help while the pilot is full?

A GP can help with health concerns that affect your weight or make changes to eating and activity difficult. You can explain what you’ve noticed, what advice you’re already following and whether you’re waiting for care elsewhere. The practice can help you decide which issue needs attention first. If a hospital team has asked you to discuss weight management before an operation, show the GP the letter and ask who should update the hospital about your plan.

The closed pilot is a reason to check the published route before asking for a referral. It isn’t a reason to put off getting help for pain, symptoms or a long-term health condition. The adult service can still explain what other support is open. You can also check NHS inform’s Scottish weight management directory if you recently moved or receive care near another board’s boundary.

If you want to keep an eye on the pilot, save the adult service page and look for an update there. The board says it will share further information when it is available. If you are registered outside Forth Valley, check your own board’s page. Our Aberdeen guide explains why another part of Scotland can have a different route. There is no published reopening date on that page, so make a plan using the services you can contact now.

If another clinician already prescribes for you

Ask the clinician who currently prescribes about your next review, side effects or a prescription that’s due. If you contact your GP or another service, tell them what you take, when you last took it and who is monitoring it. Keep the medicine packaging or a list with the exact name and strength.

If you hope to change providers, ask what information they need and who would be responsible for follow-up. An enquiry to the NHS or a self-referral to the adult service does not take over your private prescription. If you’re already on an NHS pathway in another area and have moved to Falkirk, contact the team that arranged it and your new practice so they can advise you about continuity of care.

Questions about Mounjaro in Falkirk

Ask about a private assessment

If you would like to discuss your weight privately, The Care Pharmacy offers a separate online assessment. Tell the clinician about your current medicines and any NHS or private follow-up. If your care is changing, ask who would handle your next review.

Start consultation

Clinical reviewer

Mohammed Ismail Lakhi, MPharm, MRPharmS. Superintendent Pharmacist at The Care Pharmacy, GPhC registration number 2072815. Mohammed leads clinical governance at The Care Pharmacy.