UK Doctor Ignores PCT to Prescribe Cannabis Medicine
A UK doctor who works under the NHS trust in Calderdale has ignored instructions from above regarding the prescription of cannabis based medicine sativex, and has prescribed it for a number of his patients anyway.
The official policy of NHS Calderdale is to keep its head buried in the sand regarding Sativex. 'Simply ignore it and it doesn't exist' has been the official line up until now.
Home Grown is safer and cheaper..
But patients who suffer with Multiple Sclerosis are being left to source their own supply of a medicine which is widely renowned to be the best treatment available for MS, from illicit street drug dealers, who charge around the same price as GW Pharmaceuticals charge for sativex.
The charges for a private prescription are £125 per 10ml vial, or around £11 per day per patient.
Julie Landale, head of medicines management for NHS Calderdale, said: “Although we have a prescribing policy and list of drugs which are not approved for general use based on NICE guidance or best available evidence, GPs are able to prescribe any drug they feel is appropriate for and of benefit to their patient.
“We are now aware that a local GP surgery is prescribing Sativex and we will liaise with those doctors to make sure that patients are regularly reviewed to ensure that they are deriving benefit from this drug which was not found to be cost effective in the target population by the Yorkshire and Humber Specialised Commissioning group.”
Which begs the question - if Sativex is too expensive for NHS Calderdale, how much are they prepared to pay for the well-being of British patients (and voters)?
Green/Eco/Environment 
