How Releaf’s Rigorous Training Programme Ensures Patient Care

As the UK’s fastest-growing medical cannabis clinic, Releaf is committed to not only addressing an unmet healthcare need but doing so in a safe and clinically responsible manner. 

This is even more important with the medical cannabis industry coming under closer scrutiny from regulators such as the CQC and MHRA, with questions raised about certain practices such as prescribing flowers containing high levels of THC and offering patients a ‘menu’ of products to choose from (both of which Releaf deems to be clinically inappropriate). 

From its clinical and triage teams and patient support staff to the day-to-day operations, Releaf’s approach is rooted in governance and compliance. All team members are required to undergo a rigorous training programme on prescribing guidelines, eligibility criteria, triaging processes, and its proprietary tech platform, in order to ensure those with a genuine medical need are able to access the best possible care. 

Stringent prescribing guidelines

Medical cannabis has been legal in the UK since 2018 but is subject to strict regulations, and patient safety remains paramount. 

Releaf has developed stringent prescribing guidelines, in-line with those of the NHS, NICE and the General Medical Council (GMC), which outline the eligibility criteria and contraindications. 

All members of the prescribing team receive extensive training in these guidelines and must adhere to them at all times. 

Who are Releaf’s clinical specialists? 

In the UK medical cannabis prescriptions can only be initiated by a doctor on the GMC specialist register. 

Releaf’s clinical team is made up of a diverse range of specialists, including oncology, rheumatology, general medicine, chronic pain, psychiatry, neurology, palliative care, substance misuse, emergency medicine, general practitioners and women’s health.

The training they receive is underpinned by a highly qualified leadership team with decades of experience in medicine, healthcare and regulatory compliance.

Releaf’s Chief Operating Officer, Graham Woodward is a Specialist Advisor to the Care Quality Commission on best-practice in medical cannabis treatment, and plays a fundamental role in ensuring its operating framework aligns to the highest possible standards of patient care.

Medical director, Dr Sue Clenton was a Consultant Clinical Oncologist in the NHS for over 28 years, working as a Governance Lead for more than three years in a busy NHS department. She now leads the clinical governance activities in Releaf to ensure that it is providing safe, effective and efficient care.

Meanwhile, in her capacity as Research and Quality director, Dr Hannah Gul leads Releaf’s research initiatives and internal audit activities, ensuring that patient outcomes align to Releaf’s Patient Charter and prescribing guidelines.

Collaboration

This strategy cannot exist in a vacuum, and Releaf works closely with its partners to share vital information and ensure its staff have a rigorous understanding of the products they’re prescribing.

Releaf recently brought its team visit the SOMAÍ Pharmaceuticals facility in Lisbon, giving its clinicians an opportunity to gain first-hand insight into the cultivation, processing, and quality assurance methods behind the cannabis-based medicines in their portfolio.

“Releaf are really keen to continue the professional development of all our doctors,” one clinician shared. “Seeing the care, quality, and precision of the efforts they put into all their products helps us build confidence in the medicines we recommend.”

How is Releaf’s clinical team trained?

All Releaf doctors receive rigorous training on the prescribing guidelines as well as the procedures which have been put in place to ensure best practice. 

The clinic also has a strict triaging process to ensure that patients who are eligible for a CBPM prescription are screened before seeing a doctor (and prevent them from paying for a consultation unnecessarily should they not be eligible). This includes an eligibility check and a detailed medical questionnaire.

The triage team is trained in how to thoroughly assess a patient’s medical history using the Summary Care Record, ensuring only appropriate patients proceed to a video consultation. This includes whether or not they have two other treatments without success. 

Medical director, Dr Sue Clenton, said: ‘Our triage team is highly trained to assess patient information using Medical Records (SCR) and obtaining additional details if needed. If there are any concerns regarding a patient’s eligibility or potential increased risks associated with a prescription, a second opinion is sought within the company. For example, a psychological review may be conducted before the case is brought to the MDT (Multidisciplinary Team) for further assessment and decision-making.‘

All specialists undergo training on how to ensure that medical need is appropriately identified and managed during the initial consultation. During the appointment, they will thoroughly review the patient’s medical records and if the patient is eligible will work with them to create a personalised treatment plan that fits their lifestyle and circumstances. With the patients’ consent, all consultations are recorded and used to support further training and monitoring purposes.

The treatment plan is then discussed as part of the MDT review process for an added layer of clinical oversight. Releaf holds up to three MDT meetings per day, led by Dr Clenton, which are attended by doctors and non-medical prescribers from various specialities with experience in the NHS.

Releaf’s team visits SOMAÍ Pharmaceuticals facility in Lisbon

Using technology to enhance prescribing safety

Alongside its extensive training programme, Releaf also uses technology to enhance prescribing safety. 

All clinical team members are trained on how to use Releaf’s proprietary health tech platform, which includes multiple measures to prevent prescriptions from going through without proper review. This also has alerts in place on patient profiles to flag any concerns, such as potential issues with post-dating of scripts or exceeding monthly allowances.

This also allows the team to maintain full traceability of all prescriptions. 

Ongoing care

As cannabis is a personalised medicine, it is important that doctors are not only trained in the initial prescription process but also in how to provide thorough ongoing care and clinical oversight. 

All subscribing Releaf patients have free, on-demand access to a doctor as often as needed throughout their treatment plans. This ensures they can discuss any concerns or other matters at any time, providing support and confidence to those exploring alternative and/or complementary medication for the first time.

As soon as a prescription is written, signed and shipped to the pharmacy, a letter is automatically posted to the patient’s GP to ensure their records are updated.

How does all this impact affect patient care and satisfaction?

Releaf’s success to date, as one of the UK’s most trusted clinics according to TrustPilot, illustrates the importance of compliance and clinical oversight in ensuring patients have a safe and positive experience.

More than 60,000 people have registered their interest in accessing medical cannabis treatment through Releaf since its launch in February 2024. In that time, doctors have issued just over 5,000 prescriptions, reflecting a controlled and responsible approach to growth in the face of growing demand.  

Dr Clenton added: “We find that many patients either did not know that CBPM’s were legal in the UK, or that they even existed or that their condition could be managed with a treatment plan that involves a CBPM due to the lack of awareness and education the sector has created to date. 

“In order to be eligible for Medical Cannabis, patients have to show evidence that they have a diagnosis and that they have tried and failed at least two different treatment options. This does mean that patients are often coming to us as a last resort and are desperate for help. They come to us for treatment in a CQC-registered, clinically supervised environment, when all other treatments have failed.”