In November 2018, the UK legalised the prescription of medical cannabis by a clinician listed on the specialist register.
There has been a huge increase in the number of prescriptions granted and speciality clinics that offer expertise in prescribing medicinal cannabis after legislative reforms. There were reportedly less than 250 active medical cannabis users in the UK at the end of 2019. That figure is predicted to climb to over 500,000 by 2024.
The Birmingham Cannabis Clinic, part of The Vesey Private Hospital, is regulated by the CQC to provide medicinal cannabis for conditions such as anxiety, PTSD, dermatological conditions, chronic pain, and epilepsy; providing conventional treatments has been explored.
To make the procedure as simple as possible, patients can schedule a free eligibility appointment with a GP in person or by video conference to assess whether medicinal cannabis is right for them.
The team comprehensively reviews all of the patient’s medical history. If our team feels medicinal cannabis is right, we invite them into the clinic to discuss treatment regimes with our consultant. If medicinal cannabis is not appropriate, our GPs may look at how they can offer support with other medical treatments, ensuring that we take care of all patients.
They have a holistic approach to health and well-being and a strong and secure patient journey that ensures patient eligibility for treatment is examined by a general practitioner and a consultant; this is a unique technique in the UK. In addition, they offer well-being sessions within the hospital, including yoga, massage, and mindfulness.
They contribute their clinical data to the UK Cannabis register for audit and governance purposes, which will strengthen the greater use of medicinal cannabis products going forward.
Importantly, they offer a network of support personnel that provide patients with access to aid and support to ensure they get the most out of prescribed treatments and assistance with any treatment challenges or concerns.
Registered manager Ben Royal said: “Our vision when establishing The Vesey Private Hospital was to provide exceptional care, cutting edge treatments that were more cost-effective and affordable than traditional private healthcare. In addition, create patient journeys that are safe, effective, well-led and underpinned by good governance.
“Medicinal cannabis is a treatment area growing rapidly in the UK, and we are proud to offer the West Midlands population access to experts, face to face, to discuss the risks and benefits in depth.”
