Free CPD-accredited cannabis course launches for doctors

Sapphire Medical Clinics has launched the first CPD-accredited course to improve cannabis education among healthcare professionals.

The UK’s first Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered medical cannabis clinic, is building on its commitment to educating the medical profession about the benefits of cannabis. 

It is now the first clinic to have a course independently evaluated for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) purposes by the CPD Certification Service.

‘An overview of Medical Cannabis for Healthcare Professionals’ received the certification, giving medical professionals the assurance that its content has been structured to meet the criteria of personal development plans, and meets the highest level of integrity and quality.  

The course, which is free to all UK healthcare professionals via the Sapphire Institute for Medical Cannabis Education, offers the opportunity to gain understanding of treatment with medical cannabis in order to inform and educate the growing demographic of patients seeking access. 

The course is the latest in a line of initiatives taken by the clinic, which is dedicated to improving access for patients, alongside educating the medical profession and building evidence to achieve this through extensive data collection.

Its UK Medical Cannabis Registry collects Real World Evidence to provide comprehensive clinical data on the potential of cannabis as a treatment option for conditions where there is clinical evidence for the use of medical cannabis.

“We are very proud to be the first clinic to have a course certified by the CPD, which exists to increase the  level of learning across all industries,” commented Dr Mikael Sodergren, managing director and academic lead at Sapphire Medical.

“However, the certification is but one of the initiatives we have  taken to educate the UK’s medical profession on medical cannabis. We have established the UK  Medical Cannabis Registry, which collects real-world evidence to provide comprehensive clinical  data on the potential of cannabis as medical treatment, alongside the Sapphire Institute for Medical Cannabis Education, a source of online training and research on medical cannabis. 

“Our goal is to ensure all healthcare professionals have the education they need to support patients in their time of need.” 

The modules cover conditions where there is clinical evidence for the use of medical cannabis  including: Pain Management, Neurological disorders, Psychiatric disorders, Palliative Care, Gastrointestinal Disorders and Paediatric Neurology. 

Other topics include the pharmacology of medical cannabis, side effects, monitoring, driving and pregnancy.