We are a specialist service for people living with severe or complex obesity.

Our service is for adults aged 18+ registered with a GP in Northumberland or North Tyneside.

Your GP can refer you to the service.

Eligibility information is available further down on this page.

We provide assessment and support if you have maximised the support available in primary (your GP) and community care.

As a minimum, you must have:

  • Had healthy weight and lifestyle advice from your GP, and
  • Evidence of taking part in efforts to change your exercise and diet.

This must be for at least 6 months while failing to achieve or maintain your weight-loss goals.

This can be something you have done on your own or with your GP. You may have taken part in a programme run by:

We will work with you to:

  • Hear your weight, eating and activity story within the context of your life
  • Help you to develop your own plan focusing on areas that are important to you
  • Identify what works for you and what might be stopping you from making progress

You will get help to:

  • Break out of the ‘diet trap’ and identify changes you can keep up
  • Look at reasons why you eat in more detail, such as emotional eating and habits
  • Overcome psychological barriers to change
  • Become more physically active

We have a health psychology service for adult weight management.

 

Weight loss medications

We may provide weight loss medication. There are a small number of patients who are eligible and suitable.

The commissioners, North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB), set strict criteria. More information is available on the ICB website.

You can express interest when you have your assessment. You can also talk about it with your GP.

If you already use weight loss injections, we can’t provide advice or support for this. But you can still be referred to us for other support.

 

Weight loss surgery

If you are considering weight loss surgery (bariatric surgery), we will talk to you about this at your next step appointments.

This will include:

  • Eligibility
  • Treatment pathways to surgery
  • Behaviours which must be in place before we consider surgery

We will invite you to an introduction session to hear more about the service. You can then opt in if you feel the service will suit you. You can opt out if it is not the right option for you.

We provide a mix of individual assessments and group sessions for up to 12 months.

When we agree a need at your individual assessment, we expect you attend all sessions relating to that element of the service. We will offer you a range of dates.

The service runs Monday to Friday, from 8.30am to 5pm. We can’t offer appointments outside of our normal working hours.

Individual assessments and group sessions run at community venues throughout North Tyneside and Northumberland.

Individual appointments e.g. next steps appointments are at one of our hospital sites:

We also offer virtual groups and reviews.

The team includes:

  • Specialist dietitians
  • Dietetic assistants
  • Physical activity specialists
  • Physiotherapists
  • Clinical psychologists
  • Assistant psychologists
  • Consultant
  • Pharmacist prescriber
  • Administrators

To speak to a member of the team, call 01670 564006 or 0191 293 4251 between 8.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday.

For healthcare professionals

Ardens template - select Tier 3 Specialist Weight Management Northumbria Healthcare

Adults aged 18+ years registered with a GP in Northumberland or North Tyneside. They must be able to participate in all aspects of the service.

  • BMI 50 kg/m2 and above – all will be accepted, without need for Tier 2 input
  • BMI 40 kg/m2 and above AND engagement with a Tier 2 service for at least 6 months 
  • BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2 with co-morbidities AND engagement with a Tier 2 service for at least 6 months

Co-morbidities include:

  • Hypertension
  • Dyslipidaemia / unhealthy or abnormal levels of blood fats
  • Significant cardiovascular disease  
  • Type 2 diabetes with onset within the past 10 years
  • Sleep apnoea
  • Disordered eating and weight-related psychological issues
  • Stable complex mental health issues
  • Benign intracranial hypertension
  • Hyperinsulinemia – prediabetes, Type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome
  • Exacerbation of conditions, such as asthma
  • BMI> 35 precluded from the waiting list for surgery on basis of their BMI

If the answer to any of the below questions is yes, then this is not a suitable referral and the referral will end at this stage.

See 'Useful links' section above for alternative options.

 

Does the patient have a gastric sleeve, gastric bypass or gastric band currently in place? 

If yes, refer directly to Tier 4 bariatric service for assessment

Does the patient have any current active severe mental health problems such as psychosis or current/recent suicidal ideation or self-harm?

Our programme requires a self-management approach and therefore it is essential that mental health is sufficiently stable to enable the person to engage with the support available.

Does the patient have active cancer and are currently undergoing treatment?

 

Does the patient have a severe cognitive impairment?

This would make it difficult for the individual to be an active participant in their treatment and we are not able to support the learning of carers.

Does the patient regularly consume more than 20 units of alcohol per week?

Does the patient currently misuse substances?

Does the patient have active inflammatory bowel disease?

Please refer once medically managed and condition is stable.

Any contraindications to exercise? E.g. unstable angina, uncontrolled arrhythmia, uncontrolled hypertension resting systolic BP ≥ 200 mmHg or diastolic ≥ 100 mmHg

Please refer once medically managed and condition is stable.

Are there any medical conditions or current investigations that would exclude this patient from exercise?  

Please refer once medically managed and condition is stable.

Is the patient pregnant?

Support available via midwife. Can be referred 6 months after birth.

Has the patient disengaged from or completed treatment with a tier 3 weight management service within the past 12 months?

Please wait to re-refer until after the 12 months.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Our services