Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of NHS eligibility criteria for prescribing GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines for obesity in meeting meet the needs of patients whose obesity is attributable to an underlying endocrine disorder or other medically recognised condition; and if she will consider introducing greater clinical flexibility and funding within NHS prescribing guidance to enable specialist consultants to approve treatment in exceptional cases where obesity is a consequence of a complex underlying medical condition.

Patients with obesity associated with an underlying medical condition may fall within the licensed indications for the licensed GLP-1 medicines.

Three types of GLP-1 medicines (liraglutide, semaglutide and tirzepatide) have been recommended through the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) technology appraisal process for the management of overweight and obesity. The recommendations vary according to the specific GLP-1 drug and the eligibility criteria for each is summarised in the NICE guideline on the management of overweight and obesity, including weight-related comorbidities.

Prescribers should exercise their clinical judgement in determining whether a licensed and NICE-recommended treatment is appropriate for an individual patient.