News

New prescribing criteria for Mounjaro (Tirzepatide)

New Prescribing criteria for Mounjaro (Tirzepatide)

📅 What’s Changing?
From 23 June 2025, the prescribing of Mounjaro (tirzepatide) in General Practice will follow updated NHS criteria.

✅ Who is Eligible?
As part of the phased roll out, Mounjaro (tirzepatide) will only initially be offered to adults meeting the following criteria:
• Must have a BMI equal to or over 40
• Must have 4 confirmed diagnoses of the following 5 health related problems
o Type 2 Diabetes
o Hypertension
o Dyslipidaemia
o Cardiovascular Disease
o Obstructive sleep apnoea

Who should not take Mounjaro?
o Anyone under the age of 18
o Are pregnant or breast feeding
o Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC)
o Multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN2)
o Hypersensitivity to tirzepatide or any of its components

What You Need to Do:
If you believe you meet the new criteria;
• We must have a BMI noted on your records in the last 3 months, if we do not hold this information then please book an appointment to have your height, weight and BMI measured with the Health Care Assistant. If your BMI is 40 or over then you will be advised of next steps.
• Do not stop any current medication without advice.

What if my BMI is below 40?
• If your BMI is below 40 you are not eligible for Mounjaro on the NHS at the current time, however we can offer you referral and advice with regards to weight management.

NHS Cervical Screening Programme - Digital invitations and reminders launching from June 2025

NHS England is transforming digital services for screening programmes, with a vision that a third of all NHS interactions will be delivered through the NHS App and other digital tools within 5 years. As part of this, the NHS Cervical Screening Programme are introducing digital communications, and all Cervical Screening invitations and reminders have now moved to a new digital process.

Invitation and reminder changes

In June 2025, NHS England started sending digital invites and reminders to all eligible people:

• First, an NHS App message when eligible people are next due for their Cervical
  Screening.
• Some may also receive a message from other applicable digital channels (such as
  SMS).
• For those where a digital invitation isn’t possible, a physical letter will be posted as
  a backup.

Participant FAQs

Q: How do I download the NHS App?
A: The NHS App is available on iOS and Android through the App Store or Google Play.
Further information about the app is available here: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-app/

Q: I received a text message from NHSscreen to book my cervical screening
appointment, is it genuine?
A: Yes, any SMS messages sent by Cervical Screening will come from NHSscreen.

Q: I have the NHS App downloaded; how do I ensure my notifications are switched
on?
A: To manage your NHS App notifications: navigate to the NHS App and log in; select the
Account icon in the top corner; select Settings; select Manage notifications. This page
will show you whether your notifications are on or off. To make changes to your
notifications, follow the link to your device settings.

Q: Can I book my cervical screening appointment through the NHS App invitation?
A: Your invitation will direct you to book your cervical screening appointment in the same
way you do currently do – either by contacting your GP practice or a local sexual health
service.

Q: Why have I received an invitation from both my GP surgery and the NHS App?
A: Some GP surgeries may already be using SMS or an app to send invitations for
cervical screening. In this case, you may receive multiple invitations from both your GP
surgery and the NHS App. Please note, if you have booked your appointment following
receiving either invitation, your appointment is booked, and no further action is required.

Q: Can I still receive a physical letter if I need to?
A: Physical letters will continue to be sent to those who are unable to access the NHS
App.

Q: Why is the NHS using digital communications?
A: By using faster, more accessible digital communications with multilingual support and
enhanced accuracy, cervical screening programmes will improve engagement and achieve
significant cost savings, ensuring the long-term sustainability of NHS resources. The use
of digital communications also conforms to current best practices and expectations when
interacting with organisations.

Q: Is it only cervical screening communications I can expect on the NHS app?
A: For now (June 2025), yes. However, NHS ENgland are working to extend digital communications to Breast and Bowel screening throughout 2025, we will provide updates when any changes are made to other screening programmes.

Q: Will I also receive my cervical screening results via the NHS App?
A: Currently (June 2025), only cervical screening invitations and reminders are being
digitalised. We are continuing to work on digitalising other communication types such as
results, and we will provide updates when any changes are made.

NHS Cervical Screening Programme - Changes from 1st July 2025

Food Bank information

For information regarding Food Banks in the Redcar and Cleveland area please click on the link below:

https://www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk/cost-of-living-support/food-banks?search_api_fulltext=TS10