NHS Digital Specialist Weight Management Services

Overview:
Procurement of ‘digital platforms’ to support the delivery of specialist weight management services with the optional inclusion of prescribing and dispensing capabilities.
The overall aim of this pilot programme will be to support adults living with obesity (BMI threshold to be determined) with one or more weight-related comorbidities (Hypertension, Dyslipidaemia, Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, Cardiovascular disease), with weight loss, and continued weight maintenance through a new and innovative multi-faceted digital intervention.

Description:
NHS England wishes to notify potential providers of its intention to commence early market engagement, in advance of the procurement of digital platforms to deliver specialist weight management services within the NHS Digital SWMS pilot programme.
On 27th March 2023 the government approved £40m over 2 years to explore how approved weight loss drugs can be made safely available to more people by expanding specialist weight management services outside of hospital settings. The NHS Digital Specialist Weight Management Service (DSWMS) pilot programme (NHS DSWMS Pilot Programme) is an initiative led by NHSE under request and through funding from the Department of Health and Social Care.
The NHS DSWMS Pilot Programme will consist of several pilots across a small number of Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) within England that will test the delivery of Specialist Weight Management Services utilising digital application or web-based services. Where applicable, this will include the prescribing and dispensing of specific obesity medication which are both, licenced by the Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the subject of a relevant NICE Technology Appraisal.
The NHS DSWMS Pilot Programme will also deliver a structured behavioural change programme as part of a wraparound care service offer. The service will be made available and delivered to each eligible patient for a maximum of 24 months from the point of patient registration, which intends to deliver as a minimum:
 Cognitive behavioural therapy
 Talking therapy
 Dietary/nutritional input
 Calorie controlled diet advice and self-monitoring
 Monthly weight management medication reviews
 Objective weight measurements

Estimated value:
The estimated total value of the NHS Digital Specialist weight management services is £30,000,000, across two areas;
1) Digital specialist weight management behavioural change programme as part of a wraparound care service offer including the ability to prescribe -£15,000,000
2) Digital specialist weight management behavioural change programme as part of a wraparound care service offer only - £15,000,000
The final budget is subject to review and may change. Confirmed values will be published with the ITT tender documents and relevant notices.

Additional info:
The NHS DSWMS Pilot Programme will operate independently of local authority commissioned services. The service is not intended to replace any SWMS locally commissioned by ICBs or local authorities, instead providing additional flexible capacity locally to meet the demands of the NHSE pilot approach to test novel service models of access.