Specialist Doctors Launch Sapphire Medical Clinic, UK's First Medicinal Cannabis Clinic to Treat Full Range of Health Issues Including Childhood Epilepsy - Seite 2

It has been widely reported in the media that parents with children suffering from intractable epilepsy continue to experience difficulties in securing prescriptions for medical cannabis products containing THC. 

Dr Michael Platt, Medical Director of Sapphire Medical Clinics said:

"As part of our portfolio of services we are prepared to offer evaluative consultations to families with children affected by intractable epilepsy for consideration of Cannabis-based products for medicinal use. There are concerns about the evidence base for the prescription of medicinal cannabis products containing THC to children in terms of both efficacy and possible future harm.  These concerns are reflected in the guidance from various medical bodies and in the understandable high degree of caution currently being shown by clinicians.  But we are also aware of some anecdotal cases in which parents have been able to show that medicinal cannabis containing THC has had a strong positive impact on the children concerned.  Our paediatric neurology service will offer consultations to the families of the children concerned with an open mind but would reserve the right not to prescribe medicinal cannabis containing THC."

The Harley Street based clinic is the first of what will grow into a national network.  It will primarily work on a second opinion basis accepting referrals from GPs and other specialists.  The Sapphire team have expressed their willingness to work with the NHS to bring their unique approaching of offering access to medicinal cannabis in a way that is integrated with other treatment options to clinicians that currently lack the training and knowledge to prescribe medicinal cannabis.

Dr Platt added:

"Medicinal cannabis has enormous potential to help patients. But it is not a 'silver bullet' or 'miracle cure' and will not be appropriate for every patient. So the only way to ensure the best outcome for patients is to treat their condition using a mix of clinical interventions which may or may not include medicinal cannabis, rather than to lead on offering medicinal cannabis almost as the first option.  That latter approach may not be in the best interest of the patient and will lead to data on efficacy that will not be reliable as other approaches may have been more appropriate."