‘This made life possible again’

EVEN the Prime Minister appears confused about guidance on prescribing MS drug Sativex.

Roy Abrahams, 77, wrote to Boris Johnson, who is his MP, after seeing the incredible difference the drug made for his wife, Sheila, 72.

Diagnosed with MS seven years ago, she had been sleeping on a commode due to terrible spasms that woke her at night. Within four days of starting Sativex she was able to sleep peacefully through the night.

In his letter, Roy questioned why many others were still unable to access the drug. Mr Johnson replied he was “deeply sorry” to hear of Sheila’s problems and glad she had benefited from Sativex.

He said each case involving a cannabis-based drug “is judged individually” and adviser NICE needed more evidence to justify routine prescribing.

Disappointing

The response suggested he was unaware of the 2019 NICE recommendation that Sativex should be available on the NHS for certain patients.

Mr Abrahams, of Ruislip Manor, west London, said: “Sativex has made life possible for us again. Before we weren’t functioning, we were barely existing. Boris Johnson’s response was incredibly disappointing but not unexpected.

“He didn’t really engage with the issues I brought up in my letter, and just sent a very standard response.”

Phillip Anderson, of the MS Society, said: “It’s incredibly frustrating that, like many others, the Prime Minister has not got his facts straight on Sativex.

“Sativex is a licensed treatment approved for use on the NHS for many people living with MS. In this highly misleading response, he appears to fundamentally misunderstand this.”

He added: “MS can be relentless, painful and disabling, and the fact that so many are being denied access to a potentially life-changing treatment is completely unjust.

“We cannot end this injustice until decisionmakers at least take the time to understand it.”