PCT Will Cover Costs of Slimming Groups

A new pilot scheme kick started in Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale will allow GPs to refer overweight patients to commercial slimming groups to help them lose weight.

The PCT has formed a unique partnership with ‘Weight Watchers’ and ‘Slimming World’ whereby the Primary Care Trust (PCT) will pay for 12 sessions at a slimming group of the patient’s choice.

The pilot has been introduced locally, aimed at tackling high levels of obesity in the area. It will be rolled out across the borough in stages. The first 12 practices to come on board are:

• Rochdale         
  Mark Street Surgery
  Castleton Surgery
  Baillie Street (Dr Morijawala)
  Dr Dench
  Vicars Drive
  Stonefield Street
  Milnrow Village Practice
  Trinity Medical Centre
• Middleton
  Dr Anglin
  Windermere Road
  Longford Street
  48A Rochdale Road

The scheme will help obese patients who meet the criteria for free membership so that local people can start shedding pounds off their weight without having to spend pounds of their own money.

Overweight people who live in some of the most deprived areas of the borough will be able to take advantage of the scheme, although the PCT will also prioritise obese parents and people at risk of heart disease. GPs will make referrals and eligible patients will receive vouchers to attend 12 weekly sessions free of charge at either Weight Watchers or Slimming World.

Bernadine O’Sullivan, Public Health Consultant for Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT, said: “Tackling Obesity is a top public health priority and is part of the PCT’s ongoing commitment to exploring new and original ways in which we can help make choosing a healthier lifestyle easier. 

“There is evidence to suggest from trials in other areas that joining forces with local commercial slimming groups such as ‘Weight Watchers’ and ‘Slimming World’ programmes we can provide people with a cost effective service that will help and support people in losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight loss.

“It is hoped that after this initial 12 week period patients will start to see real results with regard to their weight loss and be motivated to continue to maintain their weight loss regimes.”

More than 16,000 people in the PCT area are recorded as obese, although it is believed that this is less than half of all the people across Heywood, Middleton and  Rochdale who are significantly overweight. The PCT is developing Obesity Risk Registers to offer support to those people most in need of weightloss support.

Ms O'Sullivan added: “We know that obesity places a large burden on NHS services as well as reducing people’s opportunity to enjoy good health. That is why the Obesity Risk Registers are so important. They allow us to identify people who need the most help and support to losing weigh."

Dr Jacquie Lavin, Nutritionist and Partnerships Manager at Slimming World, said: “This is a great opportunity to help make a difference to people’s health and lifestyles. We’d encourage patients to join Slimming World’s warm and friendly groups where they’ll learn how to satisfy their appetite with healthy, everyday foods without going hungry and still lose weight.”