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 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 long-term pharmaceutical treatments.
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 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.
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