NHS Lanarkshire has secured a portion of an £85 million funding allocation distributed among 12 health boards across the UK to support residents living with obesity. The funding will kickstart the development of an innovative programme designed to improve access to weight management initiatives and help more people manage their health closer to home.
Funding Source and Selection
The NHS Lanarkshire Healthy Lifestyle and Weight Management Service (LWMS) obtained this funding from Eli Lilly through the Obesity Pathway Innovation Programme (OPIP). The team presented an ambitious vision to make it easier for people to access the right service at the right time to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Following a highly competitive selection process, NHS Lanarkshire was one of two health boards chosen in Scotland to receive OPIP funding.
Digital Platform and Expanded Services
Alongside the opportunity to increase clinical staffing within the service, a key aspect will be the development of a new digital weight management platform and patient app. This will provide people with greater access to self-management tools, personalised weight management healthcare, health information, and connections to local community services. OPIP will also work towards improving outcomes for those in need of extra support, particularly people with Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Collaborative Development Over Three Years
Working closely with community organisations, leisure services, and third sector partners, the programme will be developed over the next three years to help ensure support is available where people need it most. Jonathan Cavana, Head of Service Transformation & Change for Lanarkshire Weight Management Service, NHS Lanarkshire, said: “Our new digital platform will be co-designed with patients and healthcare professionals, making a wide range of weight management tools more accessible across Lanarkshire. Initially launched locally, the platform will have the potential to expand across Scotland and will be designed to adapt and evolve in response to changing public health needs.”
Expanding Access to Anti-Obesity Medication
Graeme Bryson, Director of Pharmacy, NHS Lanarkshire, said: “OPIP will also allow us to widen our reach of prescribing anti-obesity medication, although this continues to follow necessary criteria for treatment, alongside lifestyle support. This new approach will be both exciting and challenging as we further help people to manage their healthcare more effectively and reduce the impact of obesity on individuals, families and communities across Lanarkshire.”
Long-Term Sustainability and Public Health Impact
Professor S Josephine Pravinkumar, Director of Public Health, NHS Lanarkshire, added: “We know that obesity is a complex health issue and that many people face challenges accessing the support they need. Through this programme, we will be able to expand access to services, develop new digital tools and strengthen community-based support, helping more people improve their health and wellbeing. Most importantly, we are designing these services with long-term sustainability in mind, ensuring that the benefits of this investment continue to support the people of Lanarkshire for years to come.”
Scottish Government Support
Public Health Minister, Maree Todd, said: “I am delighted to hear of the successful bid application put forward by NHS Lanarkshire. This funding will drive real innovation in the treatment of obesity in Scotland and ensure that people will receive care and weight management support tailored to their individual needs. This project builds on all the work undertaken by health boards across the country, with Scottish Government support, to develop safe and effective weight management services at national scale.”
