Home Office U-turn allows boy

BILLY Caldwell’s mum last night vowed to fight for a law change after her son was finally given “life-saving” cannabis oil to treat his severe epilepsy.

Charlotte Caldwell, 50, said her 12-yearold had been through “six days of torture” since customs officials seized his six-month supply of the drug on Monday.

But she said the “impossible” had been achieved after Home Secretary Sajid Javid announced he would grant a licence for the youngster to get the treatment.

Officials worked overnight to draft emergency legislation so Billy could be treated with the cannabis oil after he suffered “back to back” seizures on Friday.

Billy will now have access to four months’ worth of the medicine but, for now, only a specialist can give him the drops.

Charlotte, who was last night pictured with Billy and a syringe containing the medication, said his condition had improved since the first dose.

She called the U-turn a “wake-up call” for the Government, which she hopes will act to ensure no other family experiences a similar “horrendous” ordeal.

Speaking at London’s Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, where Billy is being treated, she told the Sunday People: “While I am relieved the right thing is finally being done for Billy today, I’m devastated my son has had to nearly die to get drops of a natural medication returned to him.

“Putting him through six days of torture has been cruel to the extreme.”

The cannabis oil, which contains a substance called THC, is illegal in the UK but available in 13 other European countries. Charlotte, of Castlederg, Co Tyrone, will now continue fighting for medicinal cannabis to be prescribed to other poorly children in the UK.

History

Speaking moments after the medication was returned, she said: “History has been made today. One little boy has achieved the impossible. Billy’s medication has been released by the Home Office and is on its way. Today was about Billy.

“But from tomorrow it’s about thousands of other children and families.

“My experience throughout this leaves me in no doubt the Home Office can no longer play a role, in fact play any role, in the administration of medication for sick children in our country.”

Billy started cannabis oil treatment in the US in 2016. Charlotte credited the drops – under the brand name Tilray – with keeping him seizure-free for 300 days.

Last year, he became the first UK patient to get an NHS prescription for the medication. But in May Charlotte was told he could no longer have it.

Charlotte resorted to collecting the prescription from Canada, where it is legal.

But Tory Home Office minister Nick Hurd ordered a six-month supply to be confiscated from her on Monday as she and Billy arrived at Heathrow Airport.

The decision caused a public outcry as Billy was taken to hospital hours after the meds were seized and has since been gripped with “life-threatening” seizures.

He has now been allowed a prescription of six 20ml bottles – which is about four months’ worth.

For now Charlotte is unable to treat her son by law so the job has fallen to a consultant in the hospital. Holding the