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<p>Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning tier three specialist
weight management services (SWMS). These services are generally aimed at those living
with severe obesity and associated co-morbidities. They provide support through a
tailored programme of care from multidisciplinary teams able to assess and work with
patients to establish the most suitable care, considering psychological, behavioural,
dietary drivers, as well as underlying disordered eating or compulsions. These tier
three SWMS are primarily delivered in secondary care, with occasional specialist primary
and community-based provision.</p><p>In 2021, during the pandemic, NHS England oversaw
a SWMS mapping exercise, via voluntary ICB and trust submission, to inform the COVID-19
recovery plan. Overall findings at the time suggested 37 out of 42 ICBs were commissioning
provision of tier three SWMS, with approximately 35,000 patients in England accessing
services. However, capacity constraints indicated an estimated 12,000 patients waiting
to access services, with an average waiting time of six months nationally. ICBs who
participated in the voluntary mapping exercise did not consent to the publication
of identifiable information. NHS England does not routinely capture specific data
on waiting times to access tier three SWMS.</p>
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