Labour is inviting bids from integrated care boards and technology providers to pilot the initiative which will give patients “comprehensive holistic weight management support including a range of wraparound services”.

The Government is committing around £50 million for the scheme, which could start next summer, while the pharmaceutical company Lilly is investing £35 million in the form of grant funding. Labour said at least £10 million has been “earmarked” to support bids in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said “patient eligibility” for the service “will be decided by clinicians at local level, with all services adhering to national guidelines, NHS governance and clinical standards, ensuring a patient-centric approach aligned to local need”.

However, pharmacies across the country already provide weight management support including lifestyle advice and Labour’s plan is short on detail about what exactly pharmacy teams will be doing as part of its obesity programme.

The DHSC said “innovative models of care for people living with obesity, outside of existing specialist weight management services” will be rolled out “to increase capacity and avoid those services being overburdened”.

“A central part of this programme will be finding new ways to deliver obesity care that are accessible to everyone who can benefit from them, regardless of their background,” it said.

The DHSC also said obesity treatments could “potentially” be provided as part of “a range of wraparound services”.