High street stores have been selling weight-loss jabs to children, a shocking investigation has revealed.
A 16-year-old girl was twice able to buy Wegovy at Boots as part of an undercover probe after giving a fake date of birth which was not challenged.
This is despite the healthcare giant saying it does not prescribe the injections to anyone under 18.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting described the findings, featured in a Channel 4 Dispatches documentary broadcast tonight, as ‘deeply concerning’.
Broadcaster and journalist Ellie Flynn sent an undercover underage schoolgirl into Boots to pick up the prescriptions.
Shed applied using the Boots online doctor system and falsified her date of birth but otherwise submitted her real name, address and the name of her GP.
She was prescribed the jabs four days later, as staff did not contact her GP.
The schoolgirl was never asked for photographic ID, either online or when she went to pick it up in the store.
The same thing happened again when she tried for a second time.
Broadcaster Ms Flynn told the Mail: ‘I was really, really surprised by how easy it was, and the fact that it happened more than once shows there is real cause for concern.
‘Everyone is talking about these drugs and it feels a cultural phenomenon almost where people are not seeing it as healthcare, they are seeing it as an easy way to lose weight.
‘I think we have to be really careful about the way children might see these drugs and might want to get their hands on them because of what they can see on social media.
‘The fact that one of our most trusted pharmacies in the UK has prescribed this to a child on more than one occasion is really concerning.’
Regulator the General Pharmaceutical Council last month introduced stricter rules on access to weight-loss injections.
The new guidelines state that pharmacies can no longer rely on patients filling out an online form and sending in photos to verify their weight.
They are now required to either see the patients in person on a video consultation or request their medical records directly from their GP.
Boots promises to contact their GPs as ‘an additional safety measure’ after prescribing weight loss jabs.
But it failed to do so on either occasion with the undercover schoolgirl.
The Health Secretary said it was ‘totally unacceptable’ for any retailer to prescribe licensed medicines with potentially serious side effects without the correct medical supervision, ID and age verification.
Mr Streeting said: ‘Healthcare regulatory bodies such as the GPC have the powers to investigate and act against rogue prescribers.
‘We expect them to do so and have sought urgent assurances that action is being taken in this case.
‘There can be real health benefits if these treatments are provided safely to the right patients, but they are not for getting beach body-ready, and retailers must act responsibly in prescribing them.’
Alima Batchelor, head of policy at the Pharmacists’ Defence Association, said: ‘You expect that there should be verification of the details given… it’s disappointing.’
A Boots spokesman said: ‘Patient safety is our number one priority. We always strive to provide a high quality of care to patients including those whose weight is impacting their health.
‘Following publication of the updated General Pharmaceutical Council guidance, we have strengthened our ID policy to only accept official photographic ID.
‘We will further review our processes in consultation with GPhC and Care Quality Commission. We urge people not to falsify their health information to obtain any prescription medicine.’
Skinny Jab Scandal: Dispatches is available to watch and stream on Channel 4 tonight at 8pm.