Patient Packages

• Standard packages For patients who are interested in attending a Slimming World group without participating in Slimming World on Referral, Slimming World can provide contact details and information about local groups to display in your practice.
• Supported packages Slimming World offer NHS teams the opportunity to purchase discounted Slimming World on Referral vouchers

Slimming World on Referral offers a subsidised package at £49.50 per patient (or £44.50 for orders over 500), which includes joining fee and 12 weeks’ attendance (offering a saving to the NHS of up to £14.50 on the normal cost).  This cost is on average a third of the cost of drug treatment such as sibutramine and orlistat (which also does not include the cost of providing a concomitant weight management programme as recommended by NICE).  Furthermore, in addition to the short-term cost-effectiveness whilst patients are participating in the scheme it is also important to consider the long-term benefits of such a scheme, which provides support in behaviour change to help patients adopt healthier lifestyle habits.

Slimming World on Referral - part of a local obesity strategy

An effective local obesity strategy will employ a co-ordinated, multi-agency approach ensuring best use of available resources. Slimming World on Referral can be an important component of a local action plan. The Slimming World on Referral scheme is easily replicated and adapts to suit local requirements in different settings, for example, general practice, secondary care and Sure Start.

Tackling Obesity in Southern Derbyshire (Avery, 2000)
(pop-up window)

NICE Obesity Guidance
(pop-up window)

Lightening the Load: tackling overweight & obesity (Toolkit 19)
(pop-up window)

Support from Slimming World

To assist in the running of referral schemes Slimming World provide:

• Special GP referral voucher packs similar to those already used by Slimming World members to ensure that people attending through Slimming World on Referral schemes are not made to feel different to any other members.
• Appropriate training of Slimming World Consultants and participating practices to ensure effective co-ordination of referral schemes, appropriate use of vouchers, commitment to the initiative, and that patients will feel comfortable in attending the group and be recognised as regular group members.
• Information about local Slimming World groups and contacts.
• Referral scheme audit to provide vital evidence about the scheme's effectiveness.

Based in Alfreton, Derbyshire, Slimming World is the largest and most advanced slimming organisation in the UK. It was founded in 1969 and since then over 3 million slimmers have attended the groups and lost a total of 60 million pounds in weight. There are now over 5,500 groups held weekly, nationwide.

Back to the top