How to get a referral for weight loss injections — NHS and private routes explained

What the clinical evidence actually says about who qualifies

NICE's recommendation for tirzepatide (Mounjaro) sets the NHS threshold at a BMI of 35 or above alongside at least one weight-related condition from a specific list, high blood pressure, dyslipidaemia, obstructive sleep apnoea, cardiovascular disease, or type 2 diabetes. For semaglutide (Wegovy), NICE's guidance requires the same BMI range but also specifies treatment within a specialist weight management service for a maximum of two years. For certain ethnic backgrounds, including South Asian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Black African, and African-Caribbean groups, UK guidance applies thresholds 2.5 kg/m² lower throughout. These are the numbers that govern NHS referrals.

The licensed criteria for private prescribing are somewhat broader. Both medicines hold UK licences for adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or 27 or above where at least one weight-related condition is present. That gap between private licence and NHS threshold is why many people who are clinically suitable end up using a private route, they meet the criteria on the medicine's own terms, but not the narrower NHS gatekeeping criteria, or simply don't want to wait. A prescriber still makes the final call based on your full clinical picture.

The NHS medicines page on tirzepatide is a reliable starting point for understanding what these medicines are and what a prescriber will need to consider. Checking your approximate BMI beforehand with the NHS BMI calculator takes two minutes and gives you a clearer sense of where you sit before any consultation.

Getting referred through the NHS, what actually happens

The NHS route begins with your GP. You would raise your weight and any related conditions at an appointment, and your GP would assess whether you meet the current commissioning criteria. Those criteria have been rolling out in phases: from June 2025, NHS England began prescribing tirzepatide for people with a BMI of 40 or above and four or more qualifying conditions; from June 2026, that expanded to include BMI 35–39.9 with four or more conditions. Further cohorts are expected from around March 2027.

Even if you meet the criteria, your GP's practice needs to be participating in the scheme, and you would need to engage with wraparound diet and activity support, that is a condition of NHS treatment, not optional. Wegovy on the NHS is routed through specialist weight management services, which carry their own waiting lists. For a realistic picture of NHS access across England, our guide to NHS referrals covers the current phase detail and what to expect at a GP appointment.

If you're outside England, the NHS picture looks different. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland operate separate commissioning frameworks with different eligibility thresholds. The NHS route overview covers what's known for each nation.

The private route, a regulated online pharmacy, step by step

A private prescription through a regulated UK pharmacy doesn't require a GP referral. The process starts with a consultation, at nume, that's free. You answer a clinical questionnaire covering your weight, health history, any current medicines, and what you've tried before. A GPhC-registered Independent Prescriber then reviews your case personally the same day. Not software. A real clinician who can approve, decline, or ask follow-up questions.

If approved, treatment is dispensed from our own GPhC-registered pharmacy (premises registration 9012878, verifiable at the GPhC register) and dispatched the same day for free next-working-day delivery by DPD. Every subsequent order goes through the same prescriber review, there's no auto-renewal, no subscription. If you'd like a full walkthrough of how to get the weight loss injection, including what to expect at each stage from consultation through to delivery, our dedicated guide takes you through the process from end to end.

If you've already started treatment elsewhere and want to transfer, our prescribers will ask for evidence of your current dose and recent clinical notes. That's standard practice, and it protects you. For general questions about eligibility or how the consultation works, the FAQs page covers what we're most commonly asked.

How to check any online pharmacy is legitimate, and why it matters

The MHRA has warned repeatedly about counterfeit weight loss pens being sold online and via social media. In 2025, enforcement operations seized roughly 20 million doses of illegally traded medicines, worth around £45 million, and a Northampton-based site producing fake tirzepatide pens was shut down. Counterfeit pens have been found to contain insulin, a genuinely dangerous substitution. The MHRA advises reporting any suspect seller at yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk.

The simple check: look the pharmacy up on the GPhC register before handing over any personal or payment information. Legitimate registered pharmacies appear with a premises number and a status of 'registered'. Red flags include sellers offering these medicines without a clinical assessment, prices far below the market, and anyone promoting so-called discount codes for prescription medicines. If you want to understand how to get weight loss injections online safely and through a properly regulated route, our guide walks you through what the process should look like and what to watch out for. For a longer read on safe sourcing, our guide to finding a regulated pharmacy covers what to look for.

If you're unsure whether private treatment is right for your situation, our clinical team is available for aftercare queries seven days a week. The consultation itself costs nothing to start.