Changing Tier 3 specialist weight management services in Leeds

Brief description of project

Tier 3 Weight Management programmes provide specialist care for people who have excess weight. The Leeds Tier 3 Specialist Weight Management service is delivered by Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust (LCH). The service offers support for adults with severe and complex obesity. The service currently offers a 12 to 18-month programme for people with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or higher, or for people with a BMI of 35, with one or more health conditions.

The service was originally designed for around 250 new referrals a year but is currently receiving significantly more referrals and now has a large waiting list. On 15 July 2023, it was agreed to pause new referrals into the service while the service is redesigned.

As part of this review, we wanted to understand what matters to people delivering and referring into the service.

Who did we speak to?

We received 34 survey responses from a range of staff including GPs, nurses and prescribers:

• Ten surveys from staff working in the service.
• 22 surveys from staff referring into the service.
• Two surveys from ‘other’ respondents.

What and how did we ask?

We asked staff to tell us about their experiences about working in or referring people into the specialist weight management service. People shared their views using an online survey.

What did people tell us?

Staff working within the service told us they value the mix of skills in the team and its caring approach to patients. They also saw benefits in some online ways of working.

However, they felt more work was needed to improve referral processes and information and communications with patients and wider stakeholders.

Staff referring to the service reported some challenges with the referral process, with wider information and communication, and noted a lack of follow-up about patients once on the programme.

You can read a brief report on what people told us here:

Report on staff and referrer responses to an online survey (oct-dec2023) (microsoft word)

What are we doing?

The responses received through the survey will contribute to the insight we have about people’s experiences of the service and will contribute to the redesign process. A decision on the future of the service and its redesign is due during 2024.

How can you help?

We can’t improve health and care in Leeds without everyone’s help. You can find information on opportunities to stay fit and healthy in Leeds by clicking on the Active Leeds link: https://active.leeds.gov.uk/active-leeds-health

Get in touch

If you have any questions, you can email Caroline at [email protected] or call 0113 221 7777 (reception).

Resources:

Analysis of Friends and Family test

Analysis of Friends and Family Test responses (microsoft word)

Insight report

Insight report (microsoft word)

Survey

Redesigning Leeds Tier 3 Specialist Weight Management Service survey (microsoft word)