Weight Loss Medication

Lord Rennard Excerpts

Monday 21st July 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

I think it is fair to say that everyone knows how significant this is, not only the personal cost of not helping people, but the cost to the NHS, the economy and wider society. The truth is that around 3.4 million adults in this country could be eligible. From talking to ICBs, we know that rollout on that scale has to be taken very seriously so that the systems do not fall over. It is a priority. Other weight-loss methods are ongoing and will continue alongside, but it is something we will continue to work exceptionally hard to achieve.

[Lord Rennard (LD)]

My Lords, I too am a user of Mounjaro, and I also helped facilitate the introduction of continuous glucose monitoring into the NHS. Is it not a fundamental problem that the current process of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is far too short-term? It puts too much weight on short-term cost savings to the NHS and not enough on long-term analysis of the benefits to the economy and of things such as emotional well-being, which is priceless.

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

I completely concur with the noble Lord’s last comments. Issues around weight and food choices are exceptionally complex, but the impact on emotional health is enormous. We have to work with the systems and the life sciences sector to make sure that we do proper longitudinal studies that can help NICE in its decision-making process. I cannot comment on NICE’s procedures around this, but it is regarded as an absolute priority by everyone involved.