Cornwall patients help shape national heart treatment decision

Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT) is welcoming new national guidance that could see over a million people in England offered semaglutide (Wegovy) to reduce their risk of heart attack and stroke. The decision is based on evidence from the large international SELECT study, to which RCHT contributed by recruiting 20 Cornish participants and supporting them throughout the full five‑year trial, including during the COVID‑19 pandemic.

NHS England have confirmed that semaglutide will be available on the NHS within months for people who are overweight and have existing cardiovascular disease, following approval from NICE and a national access agreement. The treatment is recommended for adults with a history of major cardiovascular events and a BMI of 27 or higher, and will be used alongside healthy lifestyle measures and standard therapies. Evidence from SELECT showed semaglutide reduced the risk of serious heart problems by 20% compared with placebo, directly informing this guidance.

Dr Duncan Browne, Principal Investigator for SELECT at RCHT, said: “Our participants played an important role in generating evidence that will now benefit people across the country. It shows the real impact that research in Cornwall can have on national healthcare decisions.”

RCHT’s participation ensured long-term follow‑up and high‑quality data, demonstrating the value of regional involvement in major research programmes. Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of preventable death, and this new treatment forms part of a wider national effort to improve outcomes and reduce avoidable hospital admissions.