• Contact us
  • About us
  • Digital edition
  • Online archive
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

    How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

    Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever

    Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever

    Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

    Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

    Farmers flock to North Sheep

    Farmers flock to North Sheep

    Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex

    Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex

    Appleby Horse Fair: Several cases of animal cruelty

    Appleby Horse Fair: Several cases of animal cruelty

    Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

    Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

    Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

    Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

    Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

    Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

  • Sport
    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

    How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

    Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever

    Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever

    Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

    Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

    Farmers flock to North Sheep

    Farmers flock to North Sheep

    Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex

    Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex

    Appleby Horse Fair: Several cases of animal cruelty

    Appleby Horse Fair: Several cases of animal cruelty

    Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

    Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

    Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

    Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

    Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

    Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

  • Sport
    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
No Result
View All Result
Home Latest

Hundreds of GP prescriptions for medical cannabis in north Cumbria over five years

by CWH
6 March 2023
in Latest, News
A A
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Hundreds of prescriptions were given by GPs for medical cannabis in north Cumbria over the past five years, new figures show.

The findings come as charities urge for greater access to medical cannabis for those suffering from neurological and autoimmune conditions.

Medicines made from cannabis plants or synthetic cannabis can be used to treat a range of conditions – such as multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and chronic pain.

However, they are expensive to procure, and some medical professionals disagree on how effective they are.

The most widely-prescribed drug made from cannabis is a combination of dronabil and cannabinol, which is used to treat MS, and is commonly referred to by its brand name Sativex.

Figures from the NHS OpenPrescribing service shows these drugs were prescribed 237 times by GPs in 2022 – up from 147 times in 2021.

This represents 64,530 doses of the drug – more than 36,090 the year before.

Over the past five years, 668 prescriptions have been given out by GPs for these medications in the former NHS North Cumbria CCG area.

These drugs are only used to treat certain types of MS and contain the active ingredients Tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol found in cannabis plants.

While rarely prescribed, CBD is widely available on UK high streets – albeit in varying strength and quality.

Meanwhile, substances containing THC remain illegal outside of specific medical uses.

This data shows the number of prescriptions given by GPs, rather than patients – a single patient may have been prescribed a drug multiple times over the same year.

Prescription medication can also be dispensed directly by hospitals – with previous research by the MS Society charity suggesting more than half of prescribing of Sativex is through secondary care.

Across England, 2,953 prescriptions were provided by GPs for Sativex and similar drugs in 2022 – up 56 per cent from 1,893 the year before.

The MS Society has been campaigning to make Sativex more widely available, and said despite increased availability, some health bodies will not currently fund the drug.

It says the medication can have life-changing effects for those suffering from the condition, helping to alleviate stiffness and muscle spasms.

Across the country there were just 23 GP prescriptions for cannabidiol (CBD) based medications in 2022, which are generally used for treatment-resistant epilepsy – none of which were in north Cumbria.

The NHS is hesitant to widely prescribe these medicines due to limited evidence on their effectiveness and high costs.

However, the charity Epilepsy Action said access to medicinal cannabis can make a massive difference in reducing seizures when other treatments are not working.

Daniel Jennings, senior policy and campaigns officer at the charity, said: “While it may not be effective for some people with epilepsy, the impact on quality of life in successful cases is huge.”

He said that while these medications remain difficult to get hold of through the NHS, people with epilepsy face large bills for buying them from private providers – with almost 90,000 private prescriptions made between 2018 and 2022.

Nabilone – a drug which contains synthetic cannabinoids and is used to alleviate the side effects of chemotherapy – was prescribed 371 times by GPs across England last year.

None of these were for patients in north Cumbria .

Related Posts

How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?
Expert advice

How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

8 June 2025
Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever
Latest

Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever

7 June 2025
Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross
News

Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

6 June 2025
Farmers flock to North Sheep
Farm and Countryside

Farmers flock to North Sheep

6 June 2025
Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex
News

Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex

6 June 2025
Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history
Latest

Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

6 June 2025
No Result
View All Result

Stay connected

Facebook Twitter Instagram

Most popular

Appleby Horse Fair: Several cases of animal cruelty

Appleby Horse Fair: Several cases of animal cruelty

5 June 2025
Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

6 June 2025
How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

8 June 2025
Honorary assistant bishop Geoffrey Hewlett Thompson

Honorary assistant bishop Geoffrey Hewlett Thompson

6 June 2025
Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

6 June 2025
Farmers flock to North Sheep

Farmers flock to North Sheep

6 June 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald Logo

33 Middlegate
Penrith
Cumbria
CA11 7SY

Phone: 01768 862313
Email: news@cwherald.com

Registered in England as Barrnon Media Limited. No: 12475190
VAT registration number: 343486488

Explore

  • News
  • Sport
  • Farming
  • Property
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Your view

Useful links

  • Contact us
  • Photosales
  • Online archive
  • Buy your paper
  • Digital edition
  • North Lakes Living
  • Advertise
  • About us

Follow us on

© Barrnon Media Limited 2025

Terms & Conditions / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy

This website and its associated newspaper are members of the Independent Press Standards Organisation
IPSO Logo
Review Your Cart
0
Discount
Add Coupon Code
Subtotal
Total Installment Payments
Bundle Discount
Checkout

 
0
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • more
    • North Lakes Living
    • Buy Photos
    • Buy your paper
    • About us
    • Contact us

© 2020 Cumberland & Westmorland Herald