Weight loss jabs sold to girl, 16, in Boots as docs warn of ‘serious side effects’

A teenage girl was able to buy from Boots without her age being verified on two separate occasions, an investigation has found. The 16-year-old features in an episode of s Dispatches which examined how easily applicants could obtain the drugs from high street pharmacies.

She gave a false date of birth, pretending she was 18, on her application form, and was only asked to verbally confirm this information when picking up the medication. Boots’ policy states that it does not prescribe weight-loss jabs to those under the age of 18, but it was the only chain investigated that did not require photo ID. Health Secretary and England’s top doctor, medical director Professor Sir Stephen Powis, described the findings as “deeply concerning”.

Sir Stephen added: “These are powerful medications with serious side effects – including dehydration, nausea and pancreatitis – that can lead to hospitalisation if misused.

“We continue to urge online pharmacies and private providers to act responsibly and ensure that robust safeguards are in place, such as in-person weight and age checks, to keep patients safe from harm.”

Dispatches also spoke to Dr Vicky Price, an A&E doctor at University Foundation Trust, who raised concerns about reckless prescribing of the drugs. She said: “It felt like every shift I would be aware of somebody in the department that would come in with a complication of a weight loss drug.

“Some of the things that myself and my colleagues have seen is descriptions of the heart rate going erratically… we’ve had people with acidosis, meaning a high level of acid in their blood.

“And in worst case scenarios we’ve had pancreatitis, which is an inflammation of the pancreas that can be life threatening. There are patients that have to go to intensive care because of that complication.” 

The undercover reporter’s second visit to Boots came a week after the General Pharmaceutical Council, introduced stricter rules on access to weight-loss injections last month.

These stated that pharmacies could no longer rely on patients filling out an online form and sending in photos to verify their weight, and should either see the patients in person on a video consultation or request their medical records directly from their GP. 

The Health Secretary warned that weight loss jabs could have “potentially serious side effects, so it is totally unacceptable for any retailer to prescribe them without the correct medical supervision and ID and age verification”.

Mr Streeting added: “Healthcare regulatory bodies such as the GPC have the powers to investigate and act against rogue prescribers. We expect them to do so and have sought urgent assurances that action is being taken in this case. 

“There can be real health benefits if these treatments are provided safely to the right patients, but they are not for getting beach body ready, and retailers must act responsibly in prescribing them.”

In response to the Dispatches investigation, a Boots Online Doctor spokesperson said: “Patient safety is our number one priority. We always strive to provide a high quality of care to patients including those whose weight is impacting their health. 

“Although Wegovy is licensed for patients aged 12 and over, our policy is not to prescribe to under 18s. Following publication of the updated General Pharmaceutical Council guidance, we have strengthened our ID policy to only accept official photographic ID.

“We will further review our processes in consultation with GPhC and Care Quality Commission. We urge people not to falsify their health information to obtain any prescription medicine.”

Channel 4 also investigated the prescribing of weight loss injections by qualified nurses. Two undercover reporters — who both had BMIs well below the minimum requirement to be eligible for the jabs — contacted 32 nurses about prescriptions and lied about their height and weight.

Three nurses issued prescriptions without any weight verification. One asked for a video call but did not question the reporter who was visibly not eligible for the drug.

One of the reporters was eventually sold a dose four higher times than should be given for a first prescription.

The nursing regulator, the Nursing and Midwifery Council, said the “vast majority of professionals on our register practise safely and effectively” but regulatory action could be taken where necessary. It added: “We will carefully consider the findings of this programme.”

Freedom of Information requests sent to local health authorities by the programme also found weight loss drugs were not available on the NHS in four health board areas and at four NHS hospital trusts, even to patients who are clinically obese and meet the criteria.

The health boards were Hampshire and Isle of Wight, Greater Manchester, Kent and Medway and Dorset, and the four hospital trusts were Doncaster and Bassetlaw, University Hospitals Birmingham, York and Scarborough and North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust.

Skinny Jab Scandal: Dispatches is available to watch and stream on Channel 4 at 8pm on Tuesday March 4.