Health bosses have issued warnings after a woman ended up in intensive care when she used a ‘weight loss jab’ sourced from a beauty salon.
The Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership says two other people “are known to have also become unwell”. Detectives from North Yorkshire Police launched an investigation after being notified by health professionals on May 7.
Two women, aged 32 and 37, from Selby, were arrested on suspicion of causing/administering a poison/noxious thing and have since been released on bail.
A third woman, aged 58, also from the Selby area, was arrested on suspicion of selling or supplying a prescription-only medicine. She has been released while under investigation.
The woman who was hospitalised was treated for suspected internal injuries but has since been discharged.
Health leaders in the region and the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) are warning people of the risks of using weight loss medicines bought from private clinics or online.
Buying products from unregulated suppliers “significantly increases the risk of getting a product which is either falsified or not licensed for use in the UK and can pose a direct danger to health”, they say.
NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) chief pharmacy officer Laura Angus said: “There has been a lot of attention in the media and on social media about these so-called ‘skinny jabs’, but as with any medicines bought outside of legitimate supply chains, the contents may not match the ingredients on the label.
“If you use such products you could be putting your health at serious risk.
“If you are thinking of buying a weight-loss medicine, please talk to a healthcare professional first. The only way to guarantee you receive a genuine weight-loss medicine is to obtain it from a legitimate pharmacy – including those trading online – using a prescription issued by a healthcare professional.
“We would also advise patients to check the legitimacy of the pharmacy and ensure it is regulated with the GPhC – each pharmacy premises has a registration number that can be checked easily with the GPhC at www.pharmacyregulation.org/.”
Weight-loss injections require a prescription from a doctor in order to buy legitimately. They are typically only considered for those with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or more.
Andy Morling, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency’s deputy director of criminal enforcement, said: “Weight loss medicines are powerful medications and should only be used under the supervision of a qualified healthcare professional.
“Public safety is our top priority, and our Criminal Enforcement Unit works tirelessly with partners to prevent, detect and investigate illegal activity involving medicines and medical devices.
“Buying so-called weight loss medicines from illegal suppliers significantly increases the risk of receiving products that are either falsified or not licensed for use in the UK. Products purchased in this way will not meet the MHRA’s strict quality and safety standards, and taking such medicines may put one’s health at risk.”