The Medical Director of NHS England, Professor Steve Powis, and the Chief Medical Officer, Professor Dame Sally Davies, have written to relevant clinicians to coincide with the coming into force of the rescheduling of cannabis-based medicinal products. The guidance in this letter, which signposts interim clinical advice commissioned from the British Paediatric Neurology Association and the Royal College of Physicians, is in line with normal clinical practice. The decision to prescribe cannabis-based products for medicinal use will be made on a case-by-case basis, based on clinical need and in-line with existing governance procedures for prescribing unlicensed medicines.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Department has commissioned the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to produce clinical guidance by October 2019, which will update and replace the interim advice.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4067", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Steve Brine"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Winchester"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Steve Brine"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-15T12:47:21.367Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Cannabis: Medical Treatments"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of NHS and medical professional body guidelines on the prescription of medicinal cannabis in ensuring the eligibility for prescription of patients for whom that treatment might be advantageous.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/478", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Birkenhead"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Frank Field"} ], "uin" : "190361"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/990352", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/990352/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
NHS England expects that cannabis-based products for medicinal use should only be prescribed for indications where there is clear evidence of benefit, and in patients where there is a clinical need which cannot be met by a licensed medicine and, where established treatment options have been exhausted.<\/p>
<\/p>
The decision to prescribe these unlicensed medicines must be made by a specialist doctor \u2013 not a general practitioner. These doctors focus on one field of medicine such as neurology or paediatrics and are listed on the General Medical Council\u2019s specialist register. They must make decisions on prescribing cannabis-based products for medicinal use on a case by case basis, and only when the patient has an unmet special clinical need that cannot be met by licensed products. In addition, a specialist on the General Medical Council Register should only prescribe within their own area of practice, and the decision to prescribe should be agreed by the multidisciplinary team.<\/p>
<\/p>
NHS England, the British Paediatric Neurology Association and the Royal College of Physicians will provide clinical advice to doctors ahead of the law change. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has been commissioned to develop more detailed guidelines for clinicians in the longer term.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4067", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Steve Brine"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Winchester"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Steve Brine"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-10-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-10-23T16:43:24.827Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-10-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Cannabis: Medical Treatments"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to allow patients to have access to NHS doctors willing to prescribe cannabis-based medicine in cases where their NHS doctor is unwilling to do so.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1400", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kevin Brennan"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Cardiff West"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Kevin Brennan"} ], "uin" : "181179"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/988889", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/988889/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Subject to Parliamentary approval, from 1 November doctors on the General Medical Council\u2019s specialist register can make the decision to prescribe cannabis-based products for medicinal use where deemed clinically appropriate and in the best interests of patients. Prescribers will need to follow local governance procedures for prescribing unlicensed medicines.<\/p>
<\/p>
The regulations do not limit the types of conditions that can be considered for treatment and will only be able to be supplied under the prescription or direction of a specialist doctor.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4067", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Steve Brine"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Winchester"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Steve Brine"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-10-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-10-24T16:57:55.353Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-10-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Cannabis: Medical Treatments"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether all patients with health conditions previously determined by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to benefit from the use of cannabis will automatically qualify for prescriptions for medicinal cannabis.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4491", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Lewisham, Deptford"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Vicky Foxcroft"} ], "uin" : "180265"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/972291", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/972291/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has committed to his officials working closely with the Home Office on legalising the use of cannabis-based medicines, including cannabis-oil. There has not been a meeting between the Secretary of State and the Home Secretary on the potential effect of legalising cannabis-oil medicines on the availability of cannabis as a gateway drug for social use.<\/p>
<\/p>
An impact assessment is being prepared alongside proposals to consider wider impacts of this policy. There are known harms associated with cannabis use and cannabis remains a controlled drug. The Government has no plans to legalise it for recreational use. As with other medicines in Schedule 2 to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 (such as morphine and fentanyl), it will continue to be an offence contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 to possess a cannabis based medicine without prescription or lawful authority.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4067", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Steve Brine"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Winchester"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Steve Brine"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-10-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-10-09T16:51:24.117Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-09-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Cannabis: Medical Treatments"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the Home Secretary on the potential effect of legalising cannabis-oil medicines on the availability of cannabis as a gateway drug for social use.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/308", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Coventry South"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Jim Cunningham"} ], "uin" : "173953"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/943843", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/943843/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Department is working with NHS England and equivalents in the devolved administrations to ensure that cannabis-based medicinal products are sourced and supplied where a licence is granted. In the longer-term, prescribing guidance will be developed following any decision to reschedule these products.<\/p>
<\/p>
Guidance on the licensing process for access to cannabis and cannabis-based medicinal products is available on the Home Office Gov.uk website.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4067", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Steve Brine"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Winchester"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Steve Brine"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-07-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-07-23T15:04:17.587Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-07-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Cannabis: Medical Treatments"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he is having with NHS England to ensure that consultants are aware of the licensing process for access to medical cannabis.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4623", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Tonia Antoniazzi"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Gower"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Tonia Antoniazzi"} ], "uin" : "165715"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/932750", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/932750/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
On 13 June 2018 the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Health (Lord O\u2019Shaughnessy) and officials had an introductory meeting with GW Pharmaceuticals, which develops licensed medicines containing ingredients derived from cannabis, during which the benefits of that company\u2019s medicines were discussed.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is responsible for the regulation of medicines in the United Kingdom and has provided advice and guidance, on request, to companies developing cannabis-based medicinal products, to support specific medical indications in relation to potential future marketing authorisation applications for new medicines.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4067", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Steve Brine"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Winchester"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Steve Brine"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-07-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-07-09T14:45:09.503Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-06-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Cannabis: Medical Treatments"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has had with representatives of the medicinal cannabis industry on the medicinal and therapeutic benefits of (a) cannabis and (b) cannabis-based medicinal products.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3930", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Caroline Lucas"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Brighton, Pavilion"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Caroline Lucas"} ], "uin" : "158986"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/869408", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/869408/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is the United Kingdom Agency responsible for the regulation of medicines used in the UK.<\/p>
<\/p>
The MHRA has not received any marketing authorisation (licence) applications for a medicinal product that contains raw cannabis, for the treatment of any condition in the UK.<\/p>
<\/p>
If a licence application for a medicinal product containing raw cannabis is received, the MHRA would assess the data submitted to ensure that the product is safe, has efficacy in the purpose claimed for it, is manufactured to the necessary quality standards and that there is a positive balance of benefits over any risks before approval of the licence.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4065", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Jackie Doyle-Price"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Thurrock"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jackie Doyle-Price"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-03-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-03-29T11:18:22.91Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-03-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Cannabis: Medical Treatments"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to grant licences for medicinal cannabis products; and if he will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4623", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Tonia Antoniazzi"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Gower"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Tonia Antoniazzi"} ], "uin" : "133922"} ], "itemsPerPage" : 10, "page" : 0, "startIndex" : 1, "totalResults" : 7, "type" : ["http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#ListEndpoint", "http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#Page"]} }