Europe’s largest patient registry expands to offer more affordable access

Published patient data within The UK Medical Cannabis Registry suggests positive changes were observed in pain, anxiety and sleep-specific health-related outcomes.

The Sapphire Access Scheme allows patients to be included for free in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry (“The Registry”) and receive £50 appointments. The Registry is the first such database in the UK and was set up by Sapphire Medical Clinics (“Sapphire Clinics”), the UK’s first and highest-rated medical cannabis clinic.

It includes over 3,000 patients as part of the Sapphire Access Scheme and an analysis of the clinical outcomes measured in patients in the UK with chronic pain has been published in the international peer-reviewed journal ‘Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology’.

The results from this study of 190 patients suggest that treatment with cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) has an acceptable safety profile and is associated with improved pain-specific outcomes and health-related quality of life at 1, 3 and 6 months following treatment initiation. Adverse events (side effects) were reported by 18.7 per cent of patients suggesting a favourable tolerance relative to medications, such as opioids, that are prescribed more frequently.

Sapphire Access Scheme

To mark the success of the Real-World Evidence published internationally, the Sapphire Access Scheme has expanded to an additional 2,000 patients across the UK. Eligible patients will benefit from significant cost savings, including initial appointments priced at £50, in recognition of their contribution to the groundbreaking initiative that is successful in rapidly expanding the evidence base for medical cannabis.

The Registry is the largest European database of its kind and captures patient outcomes as well as safety profiles of medical cannabis. Medical cannabis can be prescribed by specialist doctors when conventional therapy has not provided adequate symptom relief for conditions such as pain, anxiety, and insomnia. All patients enrolled in the Registry have access to individualised health metrics and can freely monitor treatment progress over time.

Dr Simon Erridge, head of research and access at Sapphire Clinics commented “As a multi-award-winning medical cannabis clinic, we are delighted to further improve access to this treatment option where other therapies haven’t worked. By collecting patient-reported outcomes and producing peer-reviewed analysis in return, together we inform the wider evidence base of the efficacy and safety of medical cannabis, which is essential for ensuring the correct patients are able to access treatment.”

Sapphire Medical Clinics patient Jack Pierce, added: “I am eligible for treatment as I previously had tried standard therapies for a range of multiple mental health conditions, consisting of Anxiety, Depression, ASD (Autism) and ADHD. The Sapphire Access Scheme has allowed me to see a specialist consultant and be prescribed medicines based on my individual needs. I have access to all health metrics such as sleep scores, daily activities and quality of life for free so that I benefit from this scheme as well as contribute to the evidence base which is accelerating in the UK, three years since the change in the law.”

Who is eligible for £50 appointments?

All patients eligible for treatment with medical cannabis can enrol on the Sapphire Access Scheme and access the £50 appointments. Medical cannabis can be considered when first-line treatments have not achieved adequate benefit or produced side effects. Find out more and complete the eligibility assessment online: https://www.sapphireclinics.com/eligibility-assessment/

Sapphire Access Scheme Pricing

£50 – Initial Appointment
£50 – Monthly one follow-up appointment
£50 – Quarterly check-up appointment
£50 – Transfer patient appointment
£0 – No repeat prescription fees

Find out more about the Sapphire Access Scheme and pricing: https://www.sapphireclinics.com/pricing/