Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase access to weight loss services in Gosport constituency.

Local authorities and the National Health Service provide weight management services to support their communities to achieve and maintain a healthier weight. These range from behavioural weight management programmes to specialist services for those living with obesity and associated co-morbidities. Local authorities are able to spend funding from the Public Health Grant on behavioural weight management services, whilst integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning NHS specialist weight management services. Local authorities and ICBs should consider their local population’s need and relevant guidance.

A range of services are available for people in the Gosport constituency area, including: health and wellbeing coaches and social prescribers; weight loss and exercise programmes funded by Hampshire County Council; and Complications from Excess Weight clinics for eligible children in Portsmouth and Southampton.

Additionally, NHS England commissions the NHS Digital Weight Management Programme nationally for people living with obesity with an existing comorbidity of either diabetes or hypertension, or both. The 12-week online programme is available to eligible people across England, including in the Gosport constituency, via direct referral from any general practice or Community Pharmacy.