Online Weight Management in Northern Ireland: How It Works
Online Weight Management in Northern Ireland: How It Works
Online weight management can make professional support easier to access without repeated journeys to Belfast or another town.
For someone:
• Living in a rural area
• Working irregular hours
• Caring for family
• Managing reduced mobility
remote care may be particularly convenient.
However, an online service should not mean filling in a short form and receiving automatic treatment.
Safe weight management still requires:
• Reliable information
• An individual assessment
• A genuine conversation with a clinician
• An appropriate plan for monitoring
Keltoi Wellness provides a doctor led telehealth service for adults across Northern Ireland.
This guide explains:
• How online weight management works
• What information may be requested
• What the doctor considers
• What can happen after the consultation
What is online weight management?
Online weight management is support provided through:
• Digital forms
• Secure health records
• Telephone calls
• Video consultations
• Online monitoring
rather than routine attendance at a physical clinic.
Different services offer different levels of care.
Some provide:
• General education
• Habit tracking
Others involve:
• Dietitians
• Activity professionals
• Psychologists
A doctor led service includes a medical assessment and may consider prescribed treatment where it is clinically appropriate.
The word “online” describes how the service is accessed.
It does not reduce the professional standards expected of the clinician.
The General Medical Council says doctors providing remote care must be satisfied that they can:
• Make an adequate assessment
• Establish a two way dialogue
• Obtain consent
• Access or verify the information needed for safe care
Is online weight management suitable for everyone?
No.
Remote care can work well for many adults, but it has limits.
An online service may be useful if you:
• Live anywhere in Northern Ireland and want to avoid unnecessary travel
• Need flexible access around work or caring responsibilities
• Are comfortable completing health information digitally
• Can provide accurate measurements and relevant medical information
• Can take part in a private telephone or video consultation
• Understand that the doctor may request records, tests or an in person assessment
Remote care may not be suitable when:
• A physical examination is needed
• Symptoms require urgent assessment
• Information cannot be verified
• Communication needs cannot be met safely online
A responsible provider should identify these situations and direct you to:
• Your GP
• An urgent care service
• Another appropriate professional
How online weight management works at Keltoi
The exact process can vary according to the information supplied and Dr Ahmed’s clinical judgement.
The following stages explain the usual journey.
1. You check whether the service is relevant to you
Keltoi provides remote weight management support for adults in Northern Ireland.
There is no routine requirement to attend premises in Belfast or elsewhere.
Before beginning, read:
• The service information
• Privacy notice
• Fees
• Cancellation terms
Online care is not an emergency service and should not be used for symptoms that need urgent medical attention.
If you:
• Are pregnant
• Think you may be pregnant
• Are planning a pregnancy
• Have a current or previous eating disorder
you should disclose this clearly.
These circumstances require individual medical consideration and may make a routine weight management pathway unsuitable.
2. Your identity is verified
Identity checks help ensure that healthcare and any prescribed treatment are provided to the correct person.
Keltoi uses a secure digital identity verification process during onboarding.
You may be asked to:
• Provide a valid identity document
• Complete a likeness check
The doctor may also confirm your identity when speaking with you.
These checks are a patient safety measure, not simply an administrative step.
The GMC’s remote prescribing principles specifically identify appropriate identity verification as an important safeguard.
3. You complete the health assessment questions
The online assessment collects information to give Dr Ahmed an organised picture of your circumstances before the consultation.
Questions may cover:
• Your current height
• Current weight
• Weight history
• Previous weight management attempts and outcomes
• Diagnosed medical conditions
• Recent symptoms
• Current medicines
• Supplements
• Allergies
• Blood pressure where relevant
• Recent blood test results where relevant
• Mental wellbeing
• Your relationship with food
• Pregnancy and contraception where relevant
• Eating patterns
• Activity
• Sleep
• Alcohol
• Smoking
• Your goals
• What support you are looking for
The questions and decision trees do not:
• Diagnose you
• Approve treatment
• Replace the doctor
They organise information so that the doctor can decide what needs to be explored further.
Answer honestly and completely.
Leaving out a condition, medicine or symptom could make it unsafe for the doctor to assess you.
4. You provide current measurements
Accurate measurements help the doctor assess weight in context.
You may be asked to provide:
• Your height
• A recent weight
• Supporting images that help verify the information supplied
The doctor may also consider:
• Body mass index
• Waist measurement
• Weight trend
• Other indicators
No single measurement proves whether a particular treatment is appropriate.
Use the same scales on a firm and level surface where possible.
If a reading seems unusual, repeat it before submitting the information.
5. Dr Ahmed reviews the information
Dr Waqar Ahmed reviews the health information supplied and identifies any areas that require clarification.
The online form does not instruct the doctor to prescribe.
Keltoi does not control his clinical opinion.
Dr Ahmed is responsible for deciding:
• Whether the information is sufficient
• Whether a remote consultation is appropriate
• What questions need to be asked
He may decide that:
• Medical records
• Recent test results
• Additional measurements
are required before he can safely consider the next step.
6. You have a remote consultation
The consultation may take place by an agreed remote method, such as:
• Telephone
• Video
The doctor will:
• Confirm relevant information
• Discuss your experience
• Ask further questions
This is your opportunity to explain:
• What has been difficult
• What you have tried
• What you hope to achieve
You can also ask about:
• Available options
• Possible risks
• Monitoring
• What happens if your circumstances change
A consultation should be a genuine two way clinical conversation.
It should not feel like:
• A sales call
• An approval exercise
7. The doctor decides whether more information is needed
Remote assessment does not remove the need for evidence.
Depending on your health and the option being considered, Dr Ahmed may request:
• Information from your GP record
• Confirmation of current medicines
• Blood pressure readings
• Blood tests
These may include:
• Blood glucose
• Long term blood sugar
• Cholesterol
• Kidney function
• Liver function
• Thyroid tests
He may also request:
• An assessment by your GP
• An assessment by another healthcare professional
• A physical examination that cannot be completed remotely
Not everyone needs the same checks.
The doctor decides what is relevant to your circumstances.
If important information cannot be obtained or verified, it may not be safe to proceed.
The GMC advises that doctors must only propose or prescribe treatment when they have sufficient reliable information about the patient’s health.
8. A clinical decision is made
Several outcomes are possible after an online assessment.
The doctor may:
• Recommend general weight management support without prescribed treatment
• Consider prescribed treatment appropriate as part of a wider plan
• Ask for further information or tests before making a decision
• Advise that a particular option is not suitable
• Direct you to your GP, a dietitian, an eating disorder service or another appropriate provider
The patient can express a preference and make an informed choice.
The final treatment decision belongs to the doctor.
Completing the process does not guarantee a prescription.
9. A prescription may be sent to a pharmacy
If Dr Ahmed decides that prescribed treatment is clinically appropriate, a prescription can be sent to a pharmacy for dispensing.
Where delivery is included within the chosen service arrangement, the pharmacy may deliver treatment to the patient’s address.
Delivery times depend on:
• Pharmacy processing
• Stock
• The type of item
• The destination
The pharmacy may contact you if it needs to:
• Confirm information
• Provide advice
Read the patient information supplied.
Follow the instructions given by:
• The prescriber
• The pharmacist
Never buy prescription weight management products from:
• Social media sellers
• An unverified website
Check that the clinician and supplying pharmacy appear on the relevant professional registers.
10. Monitoring and follow up continue
Weight management should not end when a prescription is issued or an initial plan is agreed.
Follow up may cover:
• Changes in weight
• Waist measurement
• Health markers
• Side effects
• New symptoms
• Changes to other medicines
• Changes to medical conditions
• Eating patterns
• Activity
• Practical barriers
• Whether the plan is helping
• Whether the plan remains appropriate
• Whether treatment should continue, change or stop
The frequency and method of review depend on:
• The plan
• The doctor’s judgement
Do not change the dose or use of prescribed treatment yourself.
What are the benefits of online weight management?
Access across Northern Ireland
Remote care can be used by eligible adults in:
• Belfast
• Antrim
• Armagh
• Derry
• Down
• Fermanagh
• Tyrone
• Rural communities
without travelling to a central clinic for every contact.
Greater flexibility
Digital forms and remote consultations may fit more easily around:
• Work
• Family life
• Disability
• Transport difficulties
Information can be organised before the consultation
Completing the assessment in advance gives the doctor time to:
• Review your answers
• Identify important questions
Monitoring can continue remotely
Weight readings, symptoms and progress can often be reviewed without an in person appointment.
This is possible provided:
• The information is reliable
• Remote care remains appropriate
These are practical benefits.
They do not guarantee better results.
The quality of assessment and support still matters more than the fact that the service is online.
What are the limitations of online care?
Measurements depend on accuracy
Home scales, measuring technique and submitted information can be inaccurate.
The doctor may need:
• Evidence
• Repeat measurements
Physical examination is limited
A telephone or video call cannot replace every examination.
New symptoms may require assessment by:
• Your GP
• Another service
Tests still need to happen elsewhere
Blood tests, blood pressure checks and other investigations may need to be arranged through:
• Your GP
• A pharmacy
• Another suitable provider
Digital access can be a barrier
Some people may find:
• Identity verification
• Forms
• Video calls
• Online records
difficult.
Providers should consider:
• Communication needs
• Disability
• Language
• Digital confidence
It is not emergency care
An online weight management service is not intended for:
• Urgent symptoms
• A medical emergency
Use emergency or urgent care services when appropriate.
Public and private online weight management in Northern Ireland
Public weight management support in Northern Ireland is changing during 2026.
The Department of Health has announced:
• A Regional Obesity Management Service
• A separate Obesity Pathway Innovation Programme
Implementation is being introduced in phases.
Initial public eligibility is based on specific clinical criteria.
Further delivery information is still being published.
Access should be checked through current:
• Department of Health information
• HSC information
Private online services operate separately.
They may offer:
• Faster access
• More flexible access
However, the patient pays the stated fees and still needs an individual clinical assessment.
Private care does not guarantee that treatment will be appropriate.
How do you choose a safe online provider?
Before sharing health information or paying, look beyond the main advertisement.
Check:
• The name and role of the clinician who will assess you
• The clinician’s current professional registration
• Whether identity verification is included
• Whether there is a real consultation and not only an online questionnaire
• How medical conditions are assessed
• How medicines are assessed
• How pregnancy is assessed
• How eating disorders are assessed
• Whether the provider can request further information
• Whether the provider can decline treatment
• How side effects and progress are monitored
• Which registered pharmacy will dispense any prescription
• What the complete and continuing costs are
• How your data is used
• How your data is stored
• How your data is shared
• How to contact the service
• How to make a complaint
• What happens when remote care is not suitable
You can check a doctor through the GMC medical register.
Pharmacies in Northern Ireland are regulated by the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland.
A provider using a pharmacy elsewhere in the UK should identify:
• The pharmacy
• Its relevant regulator
Be cautious of:
• Guaranteed results
• Automatic approvals
• Dramatic transformation claims
• Named prescription treatment promoted like an ordinary consumer product
• Sellers who avoid discussing your health
How is your information used?
An online service needs enough personal and health information to:
• Identify you
• Support safe care
This can include:
• Identity information
• Contact details
• Medical history
• Current medicines
• Measurements
• Images
• Consultation notes
Read the provider’s privacy notice before continuing.
It should explain:
• What information is collected
• Why it is needed
• Who may process it
• How long it is retained
• When it may be shared with healthcare professionals
Keltoi uses digital identity verification during onboarding.
Information supplied through the assessment is made available for Dr Ahmed’s clinical review.
Relevant information may need to be shared with:
• Your GP
• Another healthcare professional
to support safe care, with appropriate consent and in line with legal and professional requirements.
If a patient refuses to allow essential information to be verified or shared, the doctor may decide that it is not safe to prescribe.
What happens if online care is not enough?
Being directed elsewhere is not a failed consultation.
It means the limits of remote care have been recognised.
You may be advised to contact your GP if you need:
• Examination
• Investigation
• Management of another health condition
Specialist support may be more appropriate if you have:
• Severe or complex obesity
• An eating disorder
• Significant mental health concerns
• Complications requiring a wider clinical team
Seek urgent help for serious or rapidly worsening symptoms.
Do not wait for a routine weight management response.
Online care should still feel personal
Online weight management in Northern Ireland can make clinical support more accessible.
This can be particularly useful for people who:
• Do not live near Belfast
• Find travel difficult
The technology is only the method of access.
Safe care still depends on:
• Identity checks
• Honest health information
• An individual doctor assessment
• Informed consent
• Ongoing monitoring
Keltoi Wellness provides a doctor led telehealth weight management service for adults in Northern Ireland.
Information collected during onboarding helps Dr Waqar Ahmed understand your circumstances.
It does not make a clinical decision.
All assessments and treatment decisions are made by Dr Ahmed.
Any treatment is considered individually and is never guaranteed.
This article provides general information and is not a diagnosis or a substitute for individual medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
Is online weight management safe?
It can be appropriate when the provider:
• Verifies identity
• Obtains reliable health information
• Provides a genuine clinical consultation
• Arranges suitable monitoring
Remote care is not safe for every situation.
The doctor should direct you elsewhere when:
• An examination is needed
• Urgent assessment is needed
Can a doctor prescribe after an online consultation?
A doctor can prescribe remotely when they:
• Have completed an adequate assessment
• Have enough reliable information
• Believe the treatment is safe
• Believe the treatment is appropriate
Completing a questionnaire or paying for a consultation does not guarantee a prescription.
Do I need a video call?
The suitable consultation method depends on:
• The information required
• The doctor’s judgement
Telephone or video may be used.
The doctor must be able to:
• Establish a two way dialogue
• Verify important information
Will I need blood tests?
Not everyone needs the same tests.
The doctor may request:
• Blood pressure readings
• GP records
• Blood tests
if your:
• History
• Symptoms
• Treatment being considered
make them necessary.
Can treatment be delivered to my home in Northern Ireland?
Where home delivery is part of the service arrangement, a registered pharmacy may dispense and deliver prescribed treatment to your address.
Timing depends on:
• Pharmacy processing
• Stock
• Delivery arrangements
Do I have to live in Belfast to use Keltoi?
No.
Keltoi provides a remote service for eligible adults across the UK.
There is no routine requirement to attend premises in Belfast.
Does Keltoi’s online assessment decide my treatment?
No.
The assessment organises information for Dr Waqar Ahmed.
It does not:
• Diagnose
• Approve treatment
• Select treatment
All clinical decisions are made by Dr Ahmed after individual assessment.
Sources and further reading
• General Medical Council: Remote prescribing high level principles
• General Medical Council: Deciding if it is safe to propose, prescribe or provide medicines, treatment and devices
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence: Overweight and obesity management, NG246
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence: Digital technologies for delivering multidisciplinary weight management services
• Northern Ireland Department of Health: First phase of the Regional Obesity Management Service
• General Medical Council: Search the medical register
• Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland: Search the register
• NHS England: How to record your weight
Last updated: August 2026