Speaking about the announcement from the Department of Health in Northern Ireland that the country is to receive an obesity management service, BMA's Northern Ireland Council Chair, Dr Alan Stout, said: “This is welcome news. Targeted intervention is key to tackling obesity as it causes significant additional health issues for those who struggle with their weight. An obesity management service will have the potential to help make life-changing, long-term health gains for these patients and, most importantly, free up an enormous amount of resource for health services in the future.
 
“However, a significant amount of work involved in delivering this service will likely fall on general practice which, as we have made clear this week with the imposition of the GMS contract, is dangerously under resourced to deliver day-to-day services as it stands. GPs are already flooded with queries from those who are obtaining weight loss medication privately. If the Minister wants to shift the delivery of health services left, it is vital to adequately fund general practice to ensure this shift is successful.”