A leading emergency department doctor has raised alarm over the severe side effects linked to popular weight loss injections, revealing that complications from these drugs are increasingly filling hospital emergency rooms. Dr. Vicky Price, a senior A&E doctor at the University of Liverpool, shared her concerns in a recent investigation, stating that it has become a regular occurrence for patients to arrive with complications related to weight loss medications.
Among the most common side effects are erratic heart rates and dangerously high acid levels in the blood, with some cases leading to life-threatening conditions. Dr. Price explained, “It feels like every shift, we’re seeing patients with complications from weight loss drugs. We’ve had patients experience acidosis, where there’s an excessive amount of acid in the blood, and in the most severe cases, we’ve seen pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas, which can require intensive care treatment.”
The Channel 4 Dispatches investigation uncovered disturbing evidence of underage access to these medications. An undercover reporter, posing as a 16-year-old, was able to purchase weight-loss jabs from Boots on two separate occasions without any age verification, despite the pharmacy’s policy that restricts sales to individuals under 18.
In the documentary, Dr. Price detailed some of the troubling cases she has encountered: “We’ve had reports of patients with their heart rates fluctuating unpredictably, and in some severe instances, pancreatitis, which is incredibly dangerous.”
The investigation further revealed that Boots, unlike other pharmacy chains, did not require photo identification for weight-loss drug prescriptions, only asking for a date of birth, which could easily be falsified. In one instance, the undercover reporter provided a fake birthdate stating she was 18 and was still able to purchase the medication without further verification.
Alima Batchelor, Head of Policy at the Pharmacists’ Defence Association, criticized the lack of scrutiny in the process, commenting on the undercover footage: “You expect proper verification of the details provided. This is very disappointing.”
In response to growing concerns, the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) imposed stricter regulations in February 2025, mandating that pharmacies conduct in-person video consultations or request patient medical records from their GP for weight-loss injections. However, a week after the new rules were implemented, the undercover reporter returned to Boots and, once again, was able to purchase the medication with no photo ID check and a falsified birthdate.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting expressed his concern over the findings, stating, “These are licensed drugs with serious potential side effects, and it’s entirely unacceptable for any retailer to prescribe them without proper medical supervision and age verification. Regulatory bodies must take immediate action to address this.”
In response, Boots emphasized their commitment to patient safety and stated they have strengthened their identification policy following the updated GPhC guidelines. They assured that only official photographic ID would now be accepted for prescription medication and vowed to review their processes further.
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