Recently introduced in Guernsey after approval in 2019, the law allowing islanders to be prescribed high-quality medicinal cannabis saw a lack of uptake from local doctors. However, there is the potential for some to do so in future once talks surrounding the subject have concluded.
The absence of any local doctors on the UK Specialist Register requesting to prescribe medicinal herbal cannabis led Health & Social Care to look at changes to the law to allow islanders to obtain legally a prescription from a UK doctor and have it imported into the Bailiwick instead.
Guernsey practices said the principles, as well as several specifics on the clinical, logistical and governance aspects prescribing medicinal cannabis, still needed to be reviewed before they considered it.
This included IslandHealth chairman Dr Julia Rebstein, who said they would ensure islanders who needed it were told, if there were any changes to access it in future.
‘Medicinal cannabis and the safest clinical way for patients in Guernsey to access it, is very much a live matter,’ she said.
‘HSC and all three island practice groups are in discussion on the principles of the subject and also many of the specifics on the clinical, logistical and governance aspects of the matter. IslandHealth, and I’m sure the other two practice groups, will continue to convey our clinical perspective over the coming weeks and months.’
Dr Mat Dorrian, the British Medical Association’s representative in the island, was positive of HSC’s proactive role in ensuring islanders could still get access to medicinal cannabis, while doctors got to grips with the practicalities.
‘The key thing is for any prescription of medicinal cannabis is that it needs to be done within clinical guidelines and with governance,’ he said.
‘This is completely new for us here in Guernsey and, as with any new medications, we need to ensure that there is a clear evidence base for it and the right level of specialist doctors doing so.
‘Although there are no doctors that I’m aware of who have shown an interest in prescribing it, we’re not blocking it, we’re simply ensuring its safety and accountability, and finding out how we can deliver it – there’s still lots of discussions to be had.’
The current arrangements are reliant on local doctors feeling able and willing to prescribe such products and being appropriately qualified to do so.
Reasons given by HSC as to why a doctor may not, included doctors feeling ill-equipped to do so based on their professional experience and expertise.
Further legislative changes in the meantime will enable islanders to privately access care through off-island clinics, with the potential for support from on-island clinicians, and for prescribed cannabis products to be lawfully imported into the Bailiwick.
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