Digital health company Inhealthcare has launched a self-referral service to help NHS organisations manage the expected surge in demand for new weight loss medications.
The secure online system, which validates patients against the NHS Spine – the national healthcare IT infrastructure – enables NHS organisations to coordinate interest from individuals seeking newly approved treatments such as Tirzepatide (Mounjaro).
The launch comes as the NHS prepares for significant demand following NICE’s recommendation of Tirzepatide for adults with a BMI over 35 and at least one weight-related long-term health condition. It is estimated that while 3.4 million people in England may be eligible for these treatments, NHS capacity constraints mean only around 220,000 people will receive treatment over the next three years.
Jamie Innes, product director at Inhealthcare, said: “Built on our proven technology, this service will help primary care providers manage demand as interest in these new treatments grows. By validating patients against the NHS Spine, we ensure healthcare providers only receive verified registrations from their area, helping NHS teams to plan and allocate resources effectively. Healthcare providers with structured systems in place will be better prepared to manage the expected patient demand.”
The service was developed in collaboration with Health Call, the NHS-owned digital health company. It includes secure capture of patient contact information, customisable registration pages with local ICS branding, and comprehensive data reporting capabilities. Healthcare providers can integrate additional patient screening and eligibility pathways as needed to further triage patients who show interest in the medication.
The solution builds on Inhealthcare’s track record of managing large-scale healthcare initiatives, with over one million patients having used its self-referral service for COVID-19 vaccination, childhood immunisation, and MSK referral services. Beyond weight loss medications, the service enables NHS teams to invite registered patients for routine health checks, cancer screening and other health services – supporting the government’s focus on digital transformation and shifting from treatment to prevention.
Early adoption across a large ICS region has already seen more than 375 patients register through the service without any formal promotion, demonstrating the likely scale of demand once fully launched.
