FOI 2025/1309

Under the Freedom of Information Act I would like to request the following information please:
1. What was your financial allocation for 2025/2026 to support the Implementation of the NICE Technology Appraisal TA1026 and the NICE funding variation for tirzepatide (Mounjaro) for the management of obesity?
2. How many patients does this financial allocation support treatment of in 2025/2026?
3. How many patients have you identified as being eligible in year 1?
4. If there is a shortfall in funding compared to expected eligibility, how do you anticipate funding this treatment shortfall?
5. Have you started prescribing Mounjaro in line with this NICE funding variation? If not, when will you start?
6. What model of care will you use for its delivery?

1. We can confirm that the specific financial allocation for this purpose is not held in the public domain and is considered commercially sensitive and confidential. As such, we are unable to disclose this information under Section 43(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, which exempts information if its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of any person, including the public authority holding it.
We remain committed to transparency and accountability and will publish relevant financial information in line with national guidance and when it becomes appropriate to do so.
2. Due to the commercially sensitive nature of the funding allocation, we are unable to disclose the number of patients this would support. However, we can confirm that the allocated funding is not sufficient to support treatment for all patients identified as eligible in Year 1.
3. Based on available data and GP system searches, we have identified a substantial cohort of eligible patients in line with the criteria defined by NHSE. The size of the cohort exceeds the number of patients who can be treated within the current allocated funding.
4. Due to the significant difference between the number of eligible patients and the available funding, we are not funding beyond the NHSE allocation. Patients are being prioritised within Cohort 1 based on clinical need, in line with the Greater Manchester commissioning statement v1.1.
5. Prescribing in primary care has not yet started, as it is not permitted until the Primary Care Model has been finalised and implemented, as stated in the GM commissioning statement.
Tier 3 Specialist Weight Management Services are currently identifying eligible patients and will be initiating treatment shortly, in line with the GM commissioning statement.
6. Tirzepatide will be delivered through a phased model of care:
• Initially, prescribing will take place within Tier 3 Specialist Weight Management Services under a multidisciplinary team.
• A Primary Care Model is in development and will be implemented at a later stage, subject to local governance and commissioning arrangements.