Mounjaro in Southampton: NHS Invitations and Private Care

How NHS assessment for Mounjaro in Southampton works

For NHS Mounjaro in Southampton, the relevant pathway is provided through Hampshire and Isle of Wight’s weight-management arrangements. Tirzepatide is available through the local NHS programme for eligible patients following assessment. GP practices have been contacting eligible patients directly as the service is introduced.

The current local NHS patient information explains the invitation process and advises that eligible patients will be contacted. Being in a priority group does not mean that a prescription will be issued immediately or without a discussion of suitability.

If you are already receiving care, follow the instructions from your own team. Keep appointment messages and the service name so you know whom to contact about an existing referral. A general launch announcement cannot tell you the date of an individual appointment.

The priority groups are based on health need

The local timetable includes a second group during July 2026 to March 2027: adults with body mass index (BMI) 35 to 39.9 and four qualifying conditions, alongside the earlier group. Lower BMI thresholds apply for specified ethnic backgrounds. The assessing clinician checks the complete criteria.

The specified conditions include type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, abnormal blood fats, heart and blood vessel disease and obstructive sleep apnoea, in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. These are diagnosed conditions, rather than a list of symptoms you should try to match yourself.

Tell your usual clinician if you develop new symptoms or your health changes. Do not wait for a weight-management invitation to report a problem that needs medical attention. For routine programme access, follow the local invitation instructions rather than treating the service as first come, first served.

What an invitation means

An invitation starts a clinical discussion. The team needs to understand your health, current medicines and whether treatment fits your needs. It may need further measurements, records or checks before deciding what to recommend.

Read any appointment instructions carefully and prepare an up-to-date medicine list. Include anything prescribed privately, contraception and medicines bought without a prescription. If you have used a weight-management medicine before, record the last dose and date used.

Ask how the support that accompanies treatment is arranged, who will review progress and how you contact the prescribing team. If an appointment format is difficult because of work, mobility or communication needs, explain that early. A treatment plan needs to be manageable beyond the first appointment.

Other support can be considered separately

A medicine invitation is one part of weight-management care. The local NHS also works with community and public-health services to provide other forms of support. Your GP can discuss which programme fits your circumstances and whether specialist assessment is appropriate.

Describe the kind of difficulty you want help with. You may need practical food advice, support becoming active with a long-term condition or help understanding changes in weight. This helps your clinician suggest support that fits your needs, including options that do not involve medication.

Check whether a programme is suitable alongside care you already receive. A lifestyle service and a prescribing clinic may have different criteria and responsibilities. Acceptance by one service does not confirm that another will prescribe.

Questions worth settling before private treatment

If you are considering private care from Southampton, establish the complete arrangement before paying:

• Is the assessment online, in person, or a mixture of the two?
• Who checks the health information and decides whether treatment is appropriate?
• How do you contact a clinician about side effects or a change in health?
• What ongoing costs and reviews should you plan for?

A provider mentioning Southampton may accept residents remotely without having a clinic in the city. Verify the registered provider and actual appointment location. Do not assume that a delivery destination is also a place you can attend for care.

If you already take treatment privately, keep that prescriber informed while an NHS assessment is considered. Starting privately does not guarantee an NHS transfer. Avoid stopping, restarting or changing a dose yourself to fit an expected invitation date.

Make sure you know what happens if the clinician recommends another approach. An assessment should leave you with a clear next step even when the medicine you searched for is not suitable.

Keeping track of an invitation or appointment

Make sure your practice has your current contact details. If you receive an invitation, read what it asks you to do and respond through the specified route. An invitation is a chance to discuss treatment. It does not guarantee a prescription or confirm when medication could be supplied.

If you cannot attend, contact the team using the details on the invitation. Ask what happens next and whether there is anything you need to prepare. If communication or accessibility is difficult, explain the specific help you need rather than simply missing the appointment.

Keep a brief note of the agreed plan and who is responsible for the next step. This is useful if a support provider and prescribing clinician contact you separately. For questions about existing treatment, use the responsible clinician’s instructions; the invitation process does not replace urgent or routine clinical care.

How a private assessment differs

Private prescribing is separate from NHS funding. A medicine may be licensed for a wider group of adults than the NHS can currently treat. For weight management, tirzepatide is licensed for adults with a starting body mass index (BMI) of at least 30, or at least 27 with a weight-related condition.

The Care Pharmacy offers an online weight-management assessment. You provide your height, weight, medical history and medicines; a prescriber considers whether treatment is appropriate and may need further information. You complete this assessment online. Our physical branches are in Bradford; contact the team if you have questions or would prefer face-to-face care.

Before committing to private care, ask about the complete cost, follow-up arrangements, help with side effects and what happens if treatment is stopped. Check the current weight-management options for service information.

Medicine checks to discuss with a clinician

Mounjaro contains tirzepatide and requires a prescription. Tell your clinician about all medicines, previous weight-management treatment, pancreatitis, severe digestive problems and any planned operation. Read the current Mounjaro patient leaflet before using it; instructions for a different injection may not apply.

Do not use it during pregnancy. If you use the contraceptive pill, discuss adding a barrier method or changing to non-oral contraception for four weeks after starting and after each dose increase. Ask your clinician before treatment if you are breastfeeding or planning a pregnancy.

Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea can occur. Severe, persistent stomach pain, which may spread to your back, needs urgent medical attention because it can be a sign of pancreatitis. Call 999 for breathing difficulty or swelling of the tongue or throat. Do not wait for a routine review. The MHRA guide to weight-management medicines explains these risks and how to avoid unregulated sellers.

Questions about local care