If you’ve been paying privately for weight-loss injections like Mounjaro and have seen good results, it’s natural to wonder whether the NHS will cover your treatment now that it’s becoming available on the public system.
Many people are excited about this rollout, but there are important rules in place that might affect who can get these prescriptions.
Dr Ellie Cannon explains that the NHS sets a pretty high bar for access.
To be eligible for weight-loss jabs like Mounjaro or Wegovy through the NHS, you need to have a BMI of at least 40, which is considered severely obese, and suffer from at least four obesity-related health issues.
These might include conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnoea, heart disease, high cholesterol, or osteoarthritis.
The idea behind these strict criteria is to make sure those who are most at risk and in need get priority access to these medications.
But if your BMI is now below the threshold—even if you’ve had success privately—you may not qualify for NHS prescriptions just yet.
What Does the Future Look Like for Weight-Loss Injection Access?
Good news is on the horizon: these rules are expected to ease up over the next few years.
From next year, people with a BMI over 35 plus four related health problems could become eligible.
Then, from September 2026, those with a BMI over 40 and just three related conditions might also qualify.
For comparison, private clinics can prescribe these drugs to people with a BMI over 30, or over 27 if they have at least one weight-related condition.
So, if you’re currently paying up to £250 a month privately for these injections, it might feel frustrating that the NHS isn’t opening access more quickly.
An important thing to remember is that NHS guidelines recommend staying on the injections long term.
Stopping could mean regaining the weight. However, clinical trials show the best long-term success comes when people use these drugs alongside lifestyle changes — improving diet and exercising regularly.
The injections help, but they’re not magic fixes on their own.
What To Know About Steroid Use for Asthma in Older Adults
A lot of people rely on steroid medications to control asthma symptoms, especially when other treatments haven’t worked well.
One reader, aged 86, shared how steroids improved their asthma but how symptoms worsened after stopping the medication.
They asked what to do if their GP refuses to prescribe steroids again, especially when they don’t mind potential long-term side effects at their age.
Dr Cannon points out that steroids can be highly effective at calming inflammation in the airways and are often prescribed as inhalers or tablets.
Sometimes, high-dose steroids are used briefly to tackle severe flare-ups.
Other times, very low doses are taken daily for chronic control.
The downside? Steroids can cause side effects like osteoporosis (bone thinning), insomnia, and swelling.
Older people are often more vulnerable to these complications, so doctors usually weigh the benefits carefully before prescribing long term.
If you feel a treatment significantly improves your quality of life, it’s worth having an open, face-to-face talk with your GP about what risks you’re willing to accept.
There may also be newer, targeted asthma medications and improved inhalers that could offer relief with fewer side effects.
Dealing with Itchy Skin Tags: When Should You See a Doctor?
Many older adults notice skin tags—small, soft, skin-colored growths—popping up on areas like the eyelids, neck, arms, or around the bottom.
Usually, these don’t cause any symptoms, so the NHS doesn’t routinely treat them.
But if your skin tags itch badly or bother you, Dr Cannon advises that you can ask your GP for a referral to an NHS dermatologist.
The dermatologist might remove the tags with minor surgery or freeze them off using cryotherapy.
However, to qualify for NHS treatment, the itching or symptoms generally have to seriously affect your quality of life—like causing daily bleeding from scratching.
If it’s milder, your GP can prescribe anti-itch creams, which many people find helpful, especially if used before bedtime to improve sleep.
New Research Brings Hope for Chronic Cough Sufferers
Chronic cough—lasting longer than eight weeks—is surprisingly common, affecting around one in ten British adults.
It’s a tough condition that can seriously disrupt sleep and day-to-day life.
Scientists at the University of Leicester recently found that some people have a genetic predisposition to chronic cough due to extra-sensitive nerves in their throats.
This helps explain why traditional treatments for related conditions like heartburn or asthma don’t always work.
This discovery is promising and could lead to better, more targeted treatments in the future.
If you’ve struggled with a stubborn cough, it’s worth following new research developments and talking to your doctor about your symptoms.
Salt Warnings on Menus May Actually Influence Healthier Eating
You might have noticed calorie counts on restaurant menus, but research shows these haven’t really reduced how much people eat overall—and can even trigger anxiety for those with eating disorders.
However, a recent study from Liverpool University looked at salt-level warnings on menus and found they do encourage diners to make healthier choices by picking lower-salt options.
Since excessive salt intake is linked to high blood pressure and heart disease, this could be a simple but effective way to improve public health.
Dr Cannon welcomes this approach and suggests it’s time we do more to alert people about the dangers of too much salt, beyond just focusing on calories.