Body positivity influencer George Keywood has criticised NHS plans to develop digital apps for weight-loss drug management, calling them a "waste of taxpayers' money."
Despite his criticism of the digital approach, Keywood, who has been taking weight-loss medication for nine months, supports making the treatment more widely available on the NHS.
The Government has unveiled plans to make NHS weight-loss jabs available in convenient locations including high streets and shopping centres as part of a new 10-year health strategy.
The proposals suggest testing "innovative models of delivering weight loss services and treatments to patients effectively and safely" in locations where people already visit regularly.
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|George Keywood blasted the NHS app
Digital-only services managed entirely online are also being considered, with the NHS app set to become the "digital front door" to health services.
Keywood told GB News: "I mean, I get where they’re coming from. They want to inform people, check on people, and make sure things are being done correctly. But my only concern is aren’t we just wasting more money again?
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"This is the issue, isn’t it? We always seem to have a solution, but then we end up going down another path.
"Now we’re going to end up getting loads of private companies to create these apps, and I just feel like it’s a waste of money.
"There’s already so much more information out there these days. People are aware of what they’re taking or what they’re potentially going to be taking.
"I think as long as they have the right information and are properly assessed when deciding whether or not to take the medication, that’s the most important part.
"After that, you kind of already know what you’re doing. I’ve been on it for nine months now, and I’m fully aware of what I should and shouldn’t be doing.
"Now, on the flip side, I do think it would be good to have routine checks with people to make sure everything is working okay and there are no other health problems while they’re taking the drug.
"But again, I believe this could be another waste of taxpayers’ money, like mine. And that’s kind of disappointing.
"It’s great that they’re planning to roll this out on the NHS for everyone who meets the criteria, but I just feel like so much money will be wasted on software and apps.
PA | The NHS app is set to become the 'digital front door' to health services
"That’s not really what this is about. This is about making real change, and I think a lot of those extras could be unnecessary, even though people should absolutely have the correct information to understand what they’re taking."
These changes aim to expand access to weight-loss treatments beyond specialist weight-management services currently available through the NHS.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has defended the expansion plans, arguing that weight-loss jabs should be available based on clinical need rather than financial means.
"Weight-loss jabs are the talk of the House of Commons tea rooms, half my colleagues are on them and are judging the rest of us saying 'you lot should be on them'," Streeting told LBC radio.
He added: "If you can afford these weight loss jabs, which can be over £200 a month, well that's all right for you. But most people in this country haven't got a spare £2,500 a year."
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