What a Wegovy consultation actually involves (and what it doesn't)

The myth: a Wegovy online consultation is just a questionnaire you pass by default

A lot of people arrive at this question expecting the consultation to be cosmetic — a short form you fill in quickly and a pen shows up. That is not how it works, and any service suggesting otherwise should give you pause.

The consultation exists because semaglutide affects appetite, digestion, gastric emptying and cardiovascular function. A prescriber needs to know about your medical history, current medicines, any conditions that affect the gut or kidneys, and whether weight-related conditions such as type 2 diabetes or hypertension are present. Certain histories (including a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma, or a history of pancreatitis) require careful discussion before treatment can proceed.

At a reputable service, the answers you give are read by a real clinician, not processed automatically. At nume, a GPhC-registered Independent Prescriber personally reviews every submission; the clinical oversight behind that decision is there to protect you, not to slow things down. You can also verify that any pharmacy you are considering is registered by searching the GPhC pharmacy register directly.

The consultation is also the moment your prescriber establishes a baseline: your weight is verified, your identity confirmed, and your starting point recorded. That matters, because future dose reviews refer back to it.

Who the Wegovy licence actually covers, and where NHS versus private access differ

There is a common conflation between what NICE recommends for NHS prescribing and what the medicine is licensed for under its Summary of Product Characteristics. They are not the same thing.

NICE's appraisal of semaglutide (TA875) recommends it only within specialist weight management services, with multidisciplinary support, for a maximum of two years, and typically for adults with a BMI of 35 or above plus at least one weight-related condition. NHS waiting lists for those services can stretch considerably.

The licensed eligibility, which governs private prescribing, is broader: adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or a BMI of 27 or above alongside a weight-related condition such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obstructive sleep apnoea, or prediabetes. Lower BMI thresholds can apply for some ethnic backgrounds under UK clinical guidance. A prescriber considers the whole clinical picture, though, BMI alone does not determine approval.

Wegovy is not licensed for use during pregnancy, breastfeeding, or when trying to conceive, and it is not licensed for under-18s. These are absolute limits, not guidelines. If you have questions about what applies to your situation, a consultation is exactly where those get answered. You can explore a broader overview of how Wegovy works as a treatment if you are still at the research stage.

What the consultation covers and what follows if it goes ahead

Expect the clinical review to cover: your current BMI, relevant medical history, existing medicines (including the oral contraceptive pill, given the guidance to add a non-oral method for the first four weeks of tirzepatide, for semaglutide there is no equivalent evidence of reduced pill efficacy, but your prescriber may still discuss it), any conditions affecting the gut, liver or kidneys, and your goals.

If treatment is approved, Wegovy arrives from our GPhC-registered pharmacy via DPD the next working day, in a plain unbranded box, the pen itself is the familiar Novo Nordisk pre-filled device, clearly labelled with your dose. Tracking comes to your phone so you are not left guessing.

A prescriber re-reviews your case before every repeat. That is not admin; it is the mechanism that catches problems early and confirms dose progression is appropriate. The NHS patient information for semaglutide gives a clear overview of the side effects to watch for, worth reading before your first pen arrives.

On the question of cost, the single price at nume covers the consultation, prescription, treatment and delivery with no separate fees. For a fuller picture of what drives private Wegovy pricing, the direct-to-consumer Wegovy page covers that ground. If you want to weigh up semaglutide against other options before booking anything, reading about the drawbacks that can come with semaglutide is worthwhile alongside the pros and cons of Wegovy, and so is a look at the specific disadvantages worth considering before you start Wegovy.

When to seek medical advice outside the consultation

The consultation is the start of clinical oversight, not the sum of it. Once on treatment, certain symptoms need prompt attention, not a message to aftercare, but a call to 111 or a visit to your GP or A&E.

Severe abdominal pain that radiates to the back, particularly with vomiting, should be assessed urgently; acute pancreatitis is a known, if infrequent, risk with GLP-1 medicines, as the MHRA highlighted in its January 2026 Drug Safety Update for this class. Signs of a serious allergic reaction, persistent dehydration from vomiting or diarrhoea, and significant changes in mood or thoughts of self-harm also warrant urgent review.

Milder side effects (nausea after a dose increase, some constipation, mild reflux) are common and usually settle. The Patient Information Leaflet in your box gives the full list and the thresholds for concern; your prescriber and our aftercare team are available seven days a week for anything in between. You can also report suspected side effects via the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.

Ready to have your eligibility reviewed? Start your free consultation and a prescriber will work through your case the same day.