Hospital ‘will not give Ben drugs he so badly needs’
AWEST Lancashire mum-of-six says her son’s life is being put in danger after Alder Hey Children’s Hospital refused to fund a course of cannabis-based medicine for his frequent seizures.
Ben Griffiths, nine, was born with a form of cerebral palsy which leads to him having numerous epileptic fits every day – sometimes as many as 30 in the space of two hours.
But his mum, Joanne, said Alder Hey had declined to pay for medication to help alleviate Ben’s condition – even though his neurologist had recommended it.
Instead his medication was changed, but this led to the seizures becoming so bad that he was admitted to hospital.
Joanne, 43, said: “All of this is due to the trust not wanting to fund this medication as they are worried all the children will want it and it will cost too much money. So my child is left to suffer.
“I have put an appeal in as my son’s life is now at risk due to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital Trust not wanting to fund special medicines.
“Ben’s neurologist had no option but to try and increase the epilepsy drug as the trust won’t let him prescribe the medication that could work for my son. Ben has exhausted all viable treatment options now and has clinical need for this medicine.
“This is so wrong that a child should be left to suffer seizures that could further brain damage him or take his life because of funding.
“The cost of looking after a disabled child with health problems will be far more than the cost of this medicine.”
Joanne, who is originally from Formby but now lives in Much Hoole, said Alder Hey was not sticking to NHS guidelines in refusing to supply the medicinal cannabis product, called Bedrocan.
A spokesperson for Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust said: “The trust cannot comment on individual cases.
“Neurologists at Alder Hey will consider whether a child is eligible to take cannabis-based medical products taking into account a number of factors.
“This includes the clinical history of the child, the scientific and clinical evidence for use of cannabisbased medical products in particular clinical situations, and the published guidance from NHS England and the British Paediatric Neurology Association (BPNA).
“Alder Hey always works closely with families to discuss treatment options.”