Home Office hears call for cannabis oil reform

NHS, would cost taxpayers. “We are clear that there will be an increased burden of taxation,” Mr Hunt confirmed. “We will be able to explain exactly where every penny is coming from... in the Budget.”

He said the NHS in England was developing a ten-year plan setting out more funds would deliver better service. Scotland’s Health Secretary Shona Robison said “every penny” would go to the NHS but claimed the announcement “really hasn’t stood up well to the slightest scrutiny”.

“Any Barnett funding is welcome after seeing Scotland’s budget cut by £2.6bn,” Ms Robison said. “However, if this is to be funded with personal tax freezes and borrowing then other UK departments will face funding squeezes to meet the costs of Brexit – and as a result any increases in health could be given with one hand and taken away with the other.” Dr Peter Bennie, the BMA Scotland chairman, said the windfall should be directed at recruiting more doctors and delivering more health services in the community.

“The BMA in Scotland have been warning for some considerable time that there is a growing gap between demands on our NHS, and the resources available to deliver care,” Dr Bennie said.

“Any extra funding must be utilised effectively.

“That means long term financial planning, not just responding to short term demands such as meeting waiting time targets.

“Audit Scotland said the same – calling on the Scottish Government to develop a longer-term approach.” The case of an Edinburgh boy with a rare form of epilepsy will be raised with ministers after the government said it would set up a panel of experts to decide when cannabis oil medication can be prescribed.

Edinburgh West MP Christine Jardine will meet Home Office minister Nick Hurd to discuss the case of Murray Gray, five, whose mum Karen has fought for the legalisation of medicinal cannabis that eases the effect of seizures.

An expert panel of clinicians will give swift advice on prescription of the banned medecine to individual patients fol- lowing widespread outrage over the confiscation of cannabis oil from mother Charlotte Caldwell, who brought the product from Canada for her 12-year-old son Billy.

Billy was rushed to hospital in London on Friday in a critical condition having suffered multiple seizures, prompting Home Secretary Sajid Javid to grant a 20-day emergency licence for use of the oil. Mr Javid and Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt support legalisation.

“Administering licenses to only high profile cases is unfair to the many people who would benefit,” Ms Jardine said. “I will press for Murray to get the medicine he needs.” Equity Release may involve a home reversion plan or a lifetime mortgage, which is secured against your property. To understand the features and risks, ask for your personalised illustration. Any money released, plus accrued interest would be repaid upon death, or moving into long-term care. This equity release service is provided by Age Partnership, who provide initial advice for free and without obligation. Only if you choose to proceed and your case completes would a fee of 1.95% of the amount released be payable (minimum £1,495). Based on the number of Equity Release plans arranged from Oct - Dec 2017.