Access to Medical Cannabis

Debate between Jeff Smith and Matt Hancock

Monday 8th April 2019 Commons Chamber

[Matt Hancock]

If the hon. Lady will write to me with the case, we will get a second opinion from a clinician who may be able to make that prescription.

[Jeff Smith (Manchester, Withington) (Lab)]

I agree that we need to remove the barriers for clinicians. We need evidence, but the problem with randomised control trials is the nature of cannabis. The fact that it contains many different compounds that interact makes it difficult to isolate the compounds that work for individuals. Cannabis is a unique treatment, and should really be in a licensing and scheduling category of its own to allow different approaches. I urge the Secretary of State to encourage observational trials so that we can allow patients to get access to the medical cannabis that will work for them.

[Matt Hancock]

We looked at observational trials, but the problem is that they do not build the evidence base that a full RCT does. A full RCT also allows some patients to get access while the trial is ongoing, so it is in fact a better proposal. It means that some patients can get the treatment now for the purposes of the trial, and then we can get a full evidence base for the long term, as was mentioned previously.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Jeff Smith and Matt Hancock

Tuesday 26th March 2019 Commons Chamber

[Matt Hancock]

That is an interesting proposition and I would be happy to talk to the hon. Gentleman more about the idea. I was in Northern Ireland last week looking at medical services there and at what we can learn, and that might be another idea.

[Jeff Smith (Manchester, Withington) (Lab)]

13. What guidance the Government have issued to sustainability and transformation partnerships on drafting their five-year workforce plans.