A weight-loss injection which suppresses the appetite is now available at all Boots and Lloyds Pharmacy branches.
After Britain was confirmed as the most obese nation in Europe, the jab – which is named Saxenda, or is sometimes referred to as Liraglutide – is intended to suppress a person’s appetite and works by mimicking a hormone called GLP1, which is the hormone that is released after you eat to let you know you’re full.
When combined with a low-fat food plan and moderate levels of activity, users of Saxenda should expect to lose 5% of their body weight over three months.
It is not recommended if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, or have certain health conditions, such as liver or kidney problems.
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Users of Saxenda should expect to lose 5% of their body weight over three months / Credit: Saxenda | Novo Nordisk
On Saxenda’s website, it says that common side effects for those taking the injection include nausea, tiredness, constipation and low blood sugar, among other things, and among the serious side effects it lists “thyroid tumours, including cancer”.
It is important to note, however, Saxenda is a weight-loss aid and not a cure that works without major dietary and lifestyle changes.
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First approved in the UK in 2017 and initially only available through private prescription, Saxenda was recently rolled out on the NHS under strict criteria, which means that to get access to the jab at the likes of Boots and Lloyds Pharmacy, you will have take an online questionnaire and match such criteria that changes depending on the individual.
Saxenda is now available at all Boots and Lloyds Pharmacy branches / Credit: Flickr
In most cases, you have to be 30 or above on the Body Mass Index (BMI) scale and have tried other methods of losing weight before being accepted for Saxenda.
During the online consultation, you will be asked about your medical history and symptoms, and your answers help assess your suitability for treatment.
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If accepted, you can pick up your jabs in store or have them delivered for free to your home. Saxenda comes in a 3ml pre-filled injection pen, with a single pen lasting 17 days and a pack of three covering 4.5 weeks.
A pack of three pens costs £150 and a pack of five is priced at £240.
Saxenda® (liraglutide 3mg) is a once daily prescription medicine and always needs to be prescribed by a licensed healthcare professional.
Boots Saxenda® prescriptions are issued by a doctor and collected in store. Lloyds pharmacy dispense their prescriptions under a Patient Group Directions (PGD). PGD’s are documents in the U.K. National Health Service that permit the supply of prescription-only medicines to groups of patients, without individual prescriptions.
Peter Kay announces four intimate charity shows in Greater Manchester – but only for these postcodes
Emily Sergeant
Peter Kay has just announced four intimate shows to raise money for a very worthy cause… but you can only get tickets if you live in these particular postcodes.
Comedy legend Peter Kay is set to return home to the Bolton Albert Halls for four very special hometown shows in this summer, marking his first performances at the venue more than two decades.
Taking to the very stage where he recorded the UK’s biggest-selling stand-up DVD, it’s set to be a proper nostalgic homecoming for one of Britain’s most beloved comedians.
The summer shows – which are taking place from 9 – 11 July 2026, even including a matinee performance – this is a rare chance for local fans to be part of something incredibly special, with all funds raised going to Bolton Hospice.
But, there’s a bit of a catch… you’ll only be able to get tickets if you live in Bolton (and some parts of Bury), as it’s strictly limited to BL postcodes.
Peter Kay Live at the Bolton Albert Halls – 2026 Dates
Thursday 9 July (Evening)
Friday 10 July (Evening)
Saturday 11 July (Matinee)
Saturday 11 July (Evening)
Tickets officially go on sale Friday 24 April at 10am, and you can get your hands on them here.
Featured Image – Supplied
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Seven in 10 NHS workers think the health service is ‘poorly prepared’ for another pandemic
Emily Sergeant
A new survey has revealed that seven in 10 NHS workers believe the health service is ‘poorly prepared’ for another pandemic if one should arise.
After the recent meningitis B outbreak in Kent last month raised the conversation of mass contagion once again, of course following the COVID-19 pandemic, a new YouGov survey of more than 1,000 NHS workers has now uncovered how well prepared staff in the health service think it is for another global pandemic.
The results show that 69% of staff surveyed think the health service is ‘poorly prepared’ for another pandemic, and to make matters worse, 26% of those even say it’s ‘very poorly’ prepared.
Only one in five (22%) think the NHS is could properly handle another pandemic, but statistically, YouGov claims none of those surveyed said it’s ‘very well’ prepared.
Seven in 10 NHS workers think the health service is ‘poorly prepared’ for another pandemic / Credit: Pxhere | Rawpixel
When workers were asked how the NHS’s level of preparedness now compares to prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 41% did concede that they think it is better prepared now than 2020, however 37% admitted they think it’s no better prepared.
16% actively think it’s less well-prepared now than it was prior to 2020.
This marked a new era of ‘transparency’ and ‘accountability’ in the NHS, with the league tables delivering on the Government’s promise to drive up standards, tackle variation in care, and ensure people get the high-quality service they rightly expect.
Every trust in England – from urgent and emergency care, through to elective operations and mental health services – will now be ranked quarterly against ‘clear and consistent’ standards.
Emily Sergeant -
7th March 2022 
