<\/p>\n
\n Aled Robert Thomas, 32, was referred to the NHS Specialist Weight Management Service around two and a half years ago after seeking help from his GP for severe obesity.\n<\/p>\n
\n He was initially prescribed Wegovy before being moved onto Mounjaro towards the end of his treatment and says he has now lost more than 20kg in total.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cThe problem with the NHS is that they only give two years of medication and then after you\u2019ve had two years you have to self\u2011fund,\u201d he said.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cMounjaro was very effective, I\u2019ve lost a lot of weight, so I wrote to my GP asking to carry on, but they said they weren\u2019t willing to fund it.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n Mr Thomas, who is currently unemployed, said the injections cost him over \u00a3300 a month privately.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cIt is a massive expense, but there doesn\u2019t seem to be another way around it,\u201d he said. \u201cI don\u2019t want to be without the medication. Losing weight has helped me feel healthier and it\u2019s good for my mental health as well as my physical health.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n He complained to Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, arguing that obesity should be treated as a long\u2011term chronic condition and questioning why effective medication should be stopped purely because funding had run out rather than on clinical grounds.\n<\/p>\n
\n When the board refused to extend treatment, he took his case to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales.\n<\/p>\n
\n In a decision letter dated 7 May 2026, the Ombudsman\u2019s office said the Specialist Weight Management Service is funded \u201cto provide support for a maximum of two years\u201d and that it could not challenge this funding or policy decision or recommend that Mr Thomas be treated differently from other patients.\n<\/p>\n
\n It also noted the board\u2019s position that patients are told from the outset that pharmacological treatment cannot continue beyond the funded period.\n<\/p>\n
\n Mr Thomas says the situation risks creating a \u201ctwo\u2011tier\u201d system.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cIt is deeply worrying that patients can make genuine progress with their health, only to have treatment withdrawn because funding has run out,\u201d he said.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cHealthcare in Wales should be based on medical need, not on who can afford hundreds of pounds every month.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n A spokesperson for Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said: \u201cCardiff and Vale University Health Board recognises the growing public interest in newer injectable therapies for weight management and the\u00a0important role\u00a0they can play in supporting people living with obesity.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n “We understand that discontinuation of any treatment can be challenging, particularly where medication has been effective in supporting weight loss and improving health outcomes.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n Our Specialist Weight Management Service provides comprehensive, multidisciplinary care for individuals with severe obesity.\n<\/p>\n
\n This includes input from medical, nursing, dietetic, psychological, and therapy professionals, with treatment plans tailored to\u00a0each individual\u2019s\u00a0clinical needs.\n<\/p>\n
\n “Where clinically\u00a0appropriate, weight management medications, including injectable therapies such as\u00a0Mounjaro, may be offered as part of a structured programme of care and are prescribed in line with NICE guidance and Welsh Government policy.\n<\/p>\n
\n “Demand for this service is\u00a0high\u00a0and access is prioritised according to clinical need.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n “We are committed to ensuring eligible patients have fair and\u00a0equitable\u00a0access to evidence-based care that supports sustainable improvements in weight and overall health following discontinuation of treatment or medication\u201d.\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n