The implementation of a Nationally Enhanced Service incentive for weight management: A longitudinal qualitative study of the perceptions and experiences of UK primary care staff on weight management using normalisation process theory

SummaryIn 2021 a Nationally Enhanced Service (NES) incentive for weight management in primary care was rolled out in England. This paid general practices £11.50 for every eligible referral they made to a weight management programme. We explored primary care staff's perceptions, experiences and attitudes toward the NES by conducting 37 semi‐structured interviews with General Practitioners (GPs), administrative staff and nurses preceding the introduction of the NES (May to September 2021) and 1 year later following its introduction (September to December 2022). Data were analysed using normalisation process theory. The NES for weight management solidified the position of staff already supportive of referring patients to weight management programmes. For staff less supportive of weight management services, the dissonance between the perceived lack of benefit of services and making referrals to services was reduced with referrals becoming more habitual. Facilitators to implementation included the presence of a coherent national policy; having a ‘champion’ explain key aspects; and a financial incentive if framed as benefiting the practice at large. Barriers included a perception that primary care has been shouldered with a complex and difficult health crisis; a worry over workload burdens; and inefficient and unclear referral systems. The implementation of the NES was broadly welcomed and accepted by primary care staff. Interviewees expressed concerns around the acceptance of weight management policies in primary care, the provision of training to raise the topic of weight and whether the responsibility of weight management fell with primary care, public health or with the patient.