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Way Forward Bucks – information for patients

Way Forward Bucks (WFB) is a specialist weight loss service for adults living in Buckinghamshire. The Way Forward programme is provided by Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust.

The team are from local services including the Community Dietetic Service and the Healthy Minds Wellbeing Service.

The WFB staff team includes Dietitians, Clinical Practitioners (Psychologist or Cognitive Behavioural Therapists), Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners, a Psychology Assistant, and a Physical Activity Specialist.

Way Forward Bucks (WFB) aims to help you:

  • Develop the confidence and skills to make permanent lifestyle changes required for long-term weight loss
  • Make healthier dietary choices
  • To make beneficial lifestyle changes to improve your quality of life, such as increasing physical activity
  • Lose enough weight to improve your health. Weight loss of    5-10% of your body weight can significantly improve your health
  • Successfully maintain your weight loss over time

Information about the service:

Way Forward Bucks is a specialist Tier 3 weight management service that encourages sustainable weight loss by supporting lifestyle change in 3 key areas – nutrition, physical activity, and emotional wellbeing. In order to access the Way Forward Bucks programme, you must have previously accessed support with community weight loss support services, such as Slimming World or seeing a dietitian.

The programme takes place over 12 months and is made up of 16 sessions in total. Our experienced and specialist team will be able to offer you support and guidance throughout the course within their specialist areas.

Digital or Remote Working

The WFB team provide support through in-person groups or through our newly developed digital group platform. Those who’ve accessed this service have found both approaches to be engaging and effective.

We are also able to offer treatment through ‘Oviva Way to Wellness’ a bespoke service that provides a personalised support package and nutritional plan. Individuals are supported by a Dietitian and Psychologist via an app, phone calls or video calls.

Accessing the service

This service is for people who have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more (or 27.5 for individuals from Black, Asian, or other ethnic minorities) with associated health problems or a BMI of 40 (37.5 for individuals from Black, Asian, or other ethnic minorities) with or without health problems. For a referral to the service, please speak to your GP or health professional.

If your referral matches our criteria for the service you’ll be invited to attend a telephone assessment with one of the team members based in the Healthy Minds Wellbeing Service. This usually takes an hour and will include a discussion about your diet, weight history, how you’re feeling, the problems you have associated with your weight and your readiness to change aspects of your lifestyle to lose weight.

At the end of the discussion your assessor will let you know if the WFB programme is likely to benefit you and of available courses. If they don’t think the programme is the best approach for you, they’ll discuss other options and you may be signposted or referred to an alternative service.

If you’re interested in joining this programme, then please contact your GP to discuss a referral.