LHMP are an early adopter of The NHS Digital Weight Management Programme
What is it?
The NHS Digital Weight Management Programme offers digital support for adults living with obesity plus either diabetes, or hypertension, or both, to help manage their weight and improve their health.
With three levels of support and a choice of providers, it is designed to offer service users a personalised level of intervention to support them to manage their weight, improve quality of life and improve longer health outcomes.
The new service will work alongside, and not replace existing weight management services funded by Local Authorities.
If you are interested in getting involved please contact us via Engage Consult to book an appointment with a member of our team.
Introduction
Obesity is a serious health concern that increases the risks of many other health conditions, including Type 2 Diabetes, cardiovascular disease, joint problems, mental health problems, and some cancers. There is also evidence to suggest that people living with obesity are at higher risk of the more severe outcomes associated with COVID-19.
Patients are referred by their GP practice to a ‘Referral Hub’ and offered one of three levels of intervention. They then have a choice of provider offering a 12-week, digital weight management service.
The programme is being implemented across early adopter sites from April 2021 onwards.
Aims of the Programme
It is our aim to support access to digital weight management services for those living with obesity as well as diabetes (Type 2 or Type 1 diabetes) and/or hypertension. There will be a particular focus on reducing health inequalities by supporting groups who have higher rates of obesity, and groups less likely to complete behavioural and lifestyle change programmes. These groups include younger (working) age adults, people of non-white ethnicity, men, and those from more deprived communities.
As a digital programme, it is designed to be accessible and easy to use, allowing you to complete the programme in your own time, at a pace that works for you.
As a digital programme, it offers an alternative means of accessing support which, emerging evidence from the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme suggests, can perform as well as face-to-face services, with additional benefits of reaching younger people and offering increased flexibility of access. A digital offer will also align with social distancing in the context of COVID-19.
Eligibility Criteria
The NHS Digital Weight Management Programme is offered to adults with a diagnosis of diabetes (Type 2 or Type 1) and/ or hypertension with a BMI of 30+ kg/m2 (adjusted appropriately for ethnicity).
The programme will only be accessible to those who have a smartphone or computer with internet access. You will need to have an e-mail account to access the programme and get the full benefits. This programme is delivered exclusively digitally.
However, people living with obesity will continue to be able to access Local Authority commissioned weight management services where the new digital services offered do not meet their needs.
Referral Process
If someone is eligible, their General Practice team can refer them to the programme. They are then given access, via a text, to the Referral Hub through an automated process that triages them to the appropriate level of intervention.
Once triaged, they will have a choice of provider. The system will then link to the chosen provider and pass across key information to enable that person to register for the 12-week programme.
What happens next?
It can be tough to make changes but with our digital support you can take control of your health and significantly reduce further health risks, all in your own time, at your own pace.
You can find more information about the programme at https://www.england.nhs.uk/digital-weight-management/
