GP referrals
GP referrals into the weight management and complex obesity service (WMCOS) are open for patients in Suffolk (excluding Waveney) and north east Essex.
About the weight management and complex obesity service (WMCOS)
The ICB has commissioned services to help people access the most suitable support and treatment for their individual weight management and obesity disease needs. Together, these services form the Weight Management and Complex Obesity Service (WMCOS).
This means patients can access support for healthy lifestyle changes and, if needed, specialist care for more complex needs – all accessible through this one service for both local and national programmes.
All referrals go through an assessment process to ensure patients get the right care for their needs. This assessment is undertaken within the WMCOS Single Point of Access.
The WMCOS Single Point of Access is a referral‑management point for all weight‑management and obesity services. It is a digital system directing people to the right support.
It is overseen by Clinical Nurse Specialists at East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT).
Overview of support available through WMCOS
How to get a referral into WMCOS
If you think you need support or treatment for weight management or obesity disease, your GP can refer you into WMCOS. You can also be referred by a hospital consultant if they advise that your weight is impacting the treatment they are providing.
Once WMCOS receives your referral, clinicians will check if you meet the eligibility criteria and whether you fall into the priority group for treatment. Not everybody referred into WMCOS will receive specialist treatment such as access to obesity management medications and/or bariatric surgery.
Patients with the highest clinical need for treatment are prioritised. This means that patients are not necessarily treated in the order in which they are referred.
Please note: If you have obtained obesity management medication privately, the above process still applies. This ensures all patients have equal access to the service and the treatment it provides.
What to expect following a referral into WMCOS
Once your referral to the WMCOS is received, here’s what happens next:
Patient questionnaire: Patients will receive a questionnaire to complete. This helps the service to understand how their weight and any related complications impact their daily living.
The questionnaire is accessible using the following browsers or it can be posted:
- Edge
- Chrome
- Safari
- Samsung Internet
Clinical assessment: Eligibility and prioritisation are based on clinical need.
Communication: The patient is informed by the WMCOS about the outcome and next steps, including any treatment or support options.
Further information
Eligibility criteria for all the services within WMCOS
Please see below a list of services available within WMCOS and the eligibility criteria you must meet to access each service.
Please note: Patients with the highest clinical need for treatment are prioritised. This means that patients are not necessarily treated in the order in which they are referred.
Treatment with tirzepatide (Mounjaro®) within the Complex Obesity Service
Mounjaro® is only prescribed within WMCOS.
Many patients who are eligible for treatment within the Complex Obesity Service will not be eligible for Mounjaro®, which has separate eligibility criteria.
NHS England has developed the eligibility criteria in the table below to show which patients can be assessed for treatment with Mounjaro®.
| Year | Access for patients with |
|---|---|
| Current criteria Year 1 (2025/26) | A BMI of 40* or above and at least four of the following conditions: hypertension, dyslipidaemia, obstructive sleep apnoea, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus |
| Current criteria Year 2 (2026/27) | A BMI of 35 to 39.9* and at least four of the following conditions: hypertension, dyslipidaemia, obstructive sleep apnoea, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus |
| ‘Year 3’, lasting 15 months (2027/28 and 2028/29) | A BMI of at least 40* and three of the following conditions: hypertension, dyslipidaemia, obstructive sleep apnoea, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus |
*BMI is reduced by 2.5 for people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds and people with a Mixed ethnic background.
Here is the full guidance from NHS England.
Please note that the treatment option offered to each individual patient is a clinical decision determined through an assessment process. The ICB does not have access to your medical records and does not make decisions regarding individual patient treatment plans.
Compliance
WMCOS is compliant with national guidance on weight management and obesity disease. These are the NHS England Interim Commissioning Guidance and the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Technology Appraisals 875 and 1026. These give further information on access and eligibility for obesity management medications.
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