Thousands of people across Lothian are set to benefit from faster access to personalised weight management support through a new programme backed by £7.7 million of funding.
NHS Lothian has been awarded the funds to develop a pioneering new weight management support programme in collaboration with Defence Medical Command (DMedC), the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI) and Edinburgh Napier University.
The funding is part of a total of £16 million in investment being provided to Scottish health boards from the Obesity Pathway Innovation Programme (OPIP). OPIP is a partnership between the UK Government and Eli , delivered by Innovate UK that supports innovative approaches to improving obesity care.
NHS Lothian and DMedC will deliver two programmes, LIMITLESS for people living in the Lothian area and STRIDE, for armed forces personnel and their families. These programmes will use an app to offer support from healthcare professionals, community services and specialist teams to help people manage their weight and improve overall health.
This will mean faster access to the right level of tailored care for people living with obesity. By providing earlier intervention, the programme aims to reduce the risk of conditions such as type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure while also reducing pressure on GP services.
Over the next three years, LIMITLESS aims to support 10,000 patients in Lothian. Meanwhile, STRIDE will provide a flexible pathway designed to support the Armed Forces community through geographic moves and deployment, using a combination of virtual support and in-person exercise interventions.
LIMITLESS and STRIDE will be independently evaluated by researchers at Edinburgh Napier University to assess its effectiveness for improving health, employment and wider social impact.
Dr Tracey Gillies, Medical Director, NHS Lothian said: “This innovative new programme has the potential to transform weight management care by using the latest technology to develop a sustainable model.
“LIMITLESS and STRIDE aim to set the standard for weight management across Scotland and beyond. They will play a crucial role in defining future models of care, reducing waiting times and ensuring faster access to safe, person-centred care for people living with obesity.”
Chief of Defence Medical, Air Marshal Claire Walton, said:
“I am delighted that Defence Medical has received this award alongside NHS Lothian with academic and digital partners in Scotland. Through this work we will aim for better long-term health and deployability of our Armed Forces and faster, more flexible, access to novel services. Our patients and healthcare teams will also be at the forefront of evaluation opportunities in this fast-moving area of medicine. Working together, LIMITLESS STRIDE will provide faster access to tailored weight management care, including digital support, psychological screening, rehabilitation and fitness assessment. This will help Armed Forces personnel improve their health, maintain operational fitness and remain ready to deploy.”
Public Health Minister Maree Todd said:
“I am delighted to hear of the successful bid application put forward by NHS Lothian.
“This funding will drive real innovation in the treatment of obesity in Scotland and ensure that people will receive care and weight management support tailored to their individual needs.
“This project builds on all the work undertaken by health boards across the country, with Scottish Government support, to develop safe and effective weight management services at national scale.”
