FINAL GPSJ Summer edition 2024 ONLINE VERSION.2pdf - Flipbook - Page 42
GPSJ
NHS & HEALTHCARE
How medical cannabis could help the NHS
By Dr Guillermo Moreno-Sanz, Scientific Director, Zerenia Clinic UK
Healthcare in the UK faces
significant challenges, but
what can be done to improve
the situation? In recent years,
the burden on the NHS and
care services has increased
dramatically, leading to longer
waiting lists and strained social
care services. Conventional
medications and care services
are struggling to meet the
growing demand. Are there
new ways to help ease this
burden? One option worth
exploring is the wider adoption
of medical cannabis to relieve
the symptomatic burdens
associated with chronic pain.
This is a key issue contributing to
the pressure on the healthcare
sector. Around eight million adults
report moderate to severely disabling
chronic pain. Back pain alone
accounts for 40% of sickness
absences in the NHS, and chronic
pain costs the economy over £10
billion annually. So, this not only
affects the quality of life for these
patients but also places a substantial
financial and operational strain on
the NHS, affecting its ability to deliver
timely care to other patients.
Exploring new solutions
Alternative treatments such
as cannabis-based medicinal
products (CBMPs) could help
some patients who haven’t found
adequate relief through conventional
treatments. By alleviating chronic
pain, these products could reduce
the need for more expensive and
resource-intensive interventions.
CBMPs interact with the body’s
endocannabinoid system to help
control pain and they may include
dried cannabis flowers, inhaled using
a vaporiser, or medical cannabis
extracts, which are taken orally
Legalised in the UK in 2018,
medical cannabis is slowly gaining
recognition within the medical
community. Prescriptions for CBMPs
must be initiated by a doctor on
the GMC’s Specialist Register after
other options have been exhausted.
Currently, medical cannabis is
predominantly available through
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private clinics, with NHS prescriptions
remaining relatively rare. However,
as more evidence of its efficacy
emerges, there is potential for its
wider implementation within the
NHS. It could offer a valuable tool for
managing chronic pain, especially for
patients who might otherwise require
costly surgical interventions or longterm pharmaceutical treatments.
Dr Guillermo Moreno-Sanz,
Scientific Director,
Zerenia Clinic UK
Insights from clinical practice
At Zerenia Clinic, we’ve observed
the benefits of medical cannabis
first-hand. For instance, one patient
with muscular dystrophy had long
relied on painkillers to manage severe
leg cramps, but these either proved
ineffective or caused unpleasant
side effects. After switching to
inhaled medical cannabis, his pain
significantly decreased, and his
mobility improved, with minimal
side effects. Another patient with
fibromyalgia experienced immediate
pain relief and increased energy
levels from an oral cannabis extract,
enabling her to focus more effectively
on her work.
A study of over 2,000 patients
conducted by Zerenia Clinic
supported these observations,
showing that 9 out of 10 of the
participants using CBMPs reported
improvements in chronic pain, with
7 out of 10 noting an improvement
greater than 50% after four weeks of
treatment. A number of other studies
have recorded similar findings,
including a recent report in the BMJ
that concluded: “Cannabis-based
medicines are effective in people with
multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, and
inflammatory bowel disease.”
Potential benefits for the NHS
The wider implementation of medical
cannabis within the NHS could yield
several benefits:
1. Reduced waiting times. By
effectively managing chronic pain,
medical cannabis could reduce the
need for patients to seek frequent
medical consultations or pursue more
invasive treatments, thereby easing
pressure on waiting lists.
2. Cost savings. Effective pain
GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SECTOR JOURNAL SUMMER 2024
management with CBMPs might
reduce the reliance on expensive
pharmaceuticals and surgical
procedures, leading to significant cost
savings for the NHS.
3. Improved patient outcomes.
Offering an additional option for pain
management could improve the
quality of life for patients with chronic
pain, potentially reducing the overall
burden on healthcare services.
4. Resource allocation. With fewer
chronic pain patients requiring
intensive care, resources could be
reallocated to other critical areas
within the NHS, improving overall
efficiency and patient care.
Moving forward
Despite the promising potential of
medical cannabis, many doctors still
have reservations about it, despite
a great deal of powerful personal
evidence from patients who have
experienced significant pain relief.
More research is therefore necessary
to fully understand its benefits and
limitations. As the evidence base
grows, it is crucial for the NHS to
consider integrating CBMPs into its
pain management protocols. They
could provide a practical and effective
solution for certain patient cohorts,
ultimately helping to reduce some of
the pressures facing the NHS.
In conclusion, by carefully
evaluating and incorporating medical
cannabis, the NHS could take
a significant step towards more
innovative and effective healthcare
solutions, ensuring better outcomes
for patients and more sustainable
operations for the system as a whole.