Hundreds in Leeds on 'growing waiting list' for specialist obesity weight loss treatment

By Don Mort, Local Democracy Reporter
Published 7th Feb 2024, 11:18 BST
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Hundreds of people are on a waiting list for specialist weight loss treatment in the city after budget cuts and rising obesity levels caused a backlog.

The Tier 3 Weight Management service, designed for adults with severe and complex obesity, had to be closed to new referrals in July last year.

The team of doctors, physiotherapists, dieticians and mental health workers was commissioned to help 250 people per year but faced a caseload of more than 1,000 at the end of December.

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Around half of those are receiving treatment while the rest remain on the waiting list while the backlog is cleared, NHS bosses said.

A meeting in Leeds has heard hundreds of people are now on a specialist waiting list for obesity problems.A meeting in Leeds has heard hundreds of people are now on a specialist waiting list for obesity problems.
A meeting in Leeds has heard hundreds of people are now on a specialist waiting list for obesity problems.

The service is delivered by Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust (LCH) and helps people with a body mass index of 40 or higher, or 35 if they have other health problems.

New treatments like the weight loss drug Wegovy could be used as part of a re-organisation of the weight-loss service.

But a report to LCH’s board meeting said the Integrated Care Board (ICB), which commissions NHS services, was concerned about the cost.

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