First medical cannabis clinic outside London receives CQC licence

For the first time, a medical cannabis clinic outside of London has been granted a licence to prescribe cannabis

MyAccess Clinics is the first medical cannabis clinic outside of London to receive a Care Quality Commission (CQC) licence, and just the second in the UK, meaning medical cannabis can be prescribed legally within the May Wellness Centre in Bristol.

Britain’s leading medical cannabis patient group has hailed the Care Quality Commission’s decision to grant a CQC licence to MyAccess Clinics as “providing real hope to thousands of families.”

Prescribers, such as Consultant Psychiatrist Dr Oscar D’Agnone, can now start assessing approximately 100 patients with conditions such as chronic pain, PTSD, anxiety and depression who have until now been stuck on a national waiting list.

Campaigners hope that the CQC licence will increase the number of medical cannabis prescriptions.

A significant step for patients and families

Leila Simpson, Deputy CEO of the United Patients Alliance, said: “The CQC’s decision is incredibly significant in providing real hope to thousands of families trying to access medical cannabis for their loved ones.

“Patients have remained frustrated by the slow uptake of prescriptions in both the NHS and private sector, and we call on the Government to urgently increase the speed of access to these vital medicines with uninterrupted supply based on patient need.”

Bruce is a 45-year-old former army veteran who has a long history of Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD). This is characterised by multiple traumatic events over several years.

Bruce lives in Devon and may now be eligible to be prescribed medical cannabis thanks to MyAccess Clinics’ CQC registration.

Bruce said: “I’m over the moon by this exciting news. For years I’ve been desperately trying to access medical cannabis for my CPTSD and the thought of now being safely prescribed in Bristol fills me with excitement.”

Graham Woodward, Clinical Director at MyAccess Clinics, said: “We’re delighted to have received our CQC registration, which I’m confident will be a turning point for patients who have so far been unable to access medical cannabis.

“I hope this brings renewed hope for the reported 1.4 million people in the UK using street cannabis to treat health conditions that a legitimately sourced, high quality medical cannabis alternative is available.”

Mr Woodward added: “We have two MyAccess Clinic locations in Bristol and London, with plans to expand further across the country.”

Home care services

The CQC licence means that patients can be prescribed in the Bristol clinic, but also anywhere nationally as the registration allows for domiciliary care for those too unwell to travel, meaning MyAccess Clinics physicians will be made available for home care services.

With their CQC licence, MyAccess Clinics intends to assess patients as part of Project TWENTY21 – Europe’s largest medical cannabis project, designed to build the largest ever evidence base for NHS provision of these cannabis-based medicines.

Dr Oscar D’Agnone, Consultant Psychiatrist with MyAccess Clinics and one of the first specialists to prescribe medical cannabis in the UK, said: “I’ve seen the transformative benefits of medical cannabis first-hand and am really pleased to be able to start assessing patients in a CQC registered clinic.

“I would like to congratulate MyAccess Clinics for paving the way in ensuring the highest clinical standards are maintained in prescribing medical cannabis.”

Initial consultations at the clinic start from £150, with follow-up consultations costing £50. Potential patients can visit www.myaccessclinics.co.uk.