The referrals for weight loss injections (through Oviva) have been on hold for some time in Mid Essex due to high demand yet serious shortage of weight loss injections nationally.

Oviva ‘right to choose’ can accept patients who fulfill Mid Essex criteria and referrals will be accepted from April 2025.

Patients can now read more about the service here and we can send a referral for you, if eligible,  as your GP surgery.

PATIENTS ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE that a Tier 2 weight management programme has been offered or completed in the past 2 years, unless not suitable/appropriate (e.g. Weight Watchers, Slimming World, National Digital Weight Management Programme, MyWeightMatters, or similar)

And

BMI is > 40 WITH a weight related health condition (e.g. Type 2 Diabetes/High BP) OR BMI is > 50 with no weight related condition.

EXCLUSION criteria are:

● Pregnant or breastfeeding
● Uncontrolled hypertension / heart condition / medical condition preventing increased activity level
● Active or suspected eating disorders, including binge eating disorder
● Bariatric surgery in the past two years
● Unstable or severe mental illness, including suicide attempts in the past 12 months. This may prevent engagement with the behaviour change programme
● Unstable alcohol or drug use (can be referred if the patient has received support and been in recovery for 3 months)
● Unstable hypothyroidism (can be referred if stable)
● Unstable Cushing’s syndrome (can be referred if stable)