MPs urge government to tackle ‘unacceptable’ blocks to medical cannabis as parents race to raise prescription funds

Welsh MPs are calling on ministers to do more as desperate parents face a race against the clock to fund their son’s prescription.

Former cabinet minister and MP for Cardiff West, Kevin Brennan has urged the UK government to step up to ensure medical cannabis is available for all patients on the NHS.

It comes as Mr Brennan’s constituents Rachel Rankmore and Craig Williams issued an urgent plea for help funding their son’s prescription, which is due to run out in two weeks.

Bailey Williams, 19, has a rare form of epilepsy known as Lennox Gastaut Syndrome, which at its worst has left him gravely ill in hospital and suffering hundreds of seizures a day.

His life has been transformed since he started taking cannabis-based medicines four years ago, but with no access through the NHS, his parents rely on donations from friends and family to fund his private prescription.

The restrictions brought in to cope with the coronavirus pandemic have meant they have missed out on thousands of pounds worth of donations, which would usually be raised through events.

Bailey’s medicine currently costs £1,300 a month, with his current supply due to run out at the end of November.

Without full-extract cannabis oil, his parents fear Bailey will lose his quality of life and once again face dozens seizures a day and weekly trips to intensive care.

With antiepileptic drugs ineffective at controlling his seizures, they have been advised that the only treatment option available to Bailey will be pain management.

Rachel and Craig have repeatedly called on Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Welsh Health Minister Vaughan Gething to step in and help fund the prescription until it is made available on the NHS.

Labour MP, Mr Brennan has now called on ministers to do more to make sure Bailey – and other patients in his position – have access to their medication.

“It is wrong that the family has to continually fundraise to be able to pay for medicine that significantly alleviates Bailey’s seizures and enhances his quality of life,” he said.

“I call upon ministers in every tier of government to do more to make sure that medical cannabis is available to patients like Bailey on the NHS right across the UK.”

Meanwhile, the Labour MP for Gower and prominent medical cannabis advocate, Tonia Antoniazzi described the blocks to medical cannabis as ‘unacceptable’.

She said she hopes to meet the Health Minister to discuss the ‘way forward’ for Bailey.

Ms Antoniazzi commented: “I know that Bailey’s parents are really finding it challenging to fundraise because of Covid. Bailey’s life has become so much richer thanks to medical cannabis under prescription it is a joy to see.”

“The block to access a prescription on the NHS is unacceptable especially after the law change two years ago. I hope to meet with the Health Minister following a recent request from Kevin Brennan MP to discuss the way forward for Bailey.”

Donate to Bailey’s prescription fund via Go Fund Me