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STATES OF JERSEY
SATIVEX: POSSESSION FOR TREATMENT PURPOSES – PETITION
Lodged au Greffe on 16th July 2014 by Deputy M. Tadier of St. Brelade
STATES GREFFE
2014 Price code: A P.127
PROPOSITION
THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion
to request the Minister for Health and Social Services –
- to issue a licence to Mrs. Ann Christine Hill for her to be professionally prescribed and supplied with "Sativex" or similar proprietary treatment in accordance with the Minister's discretionary powers under the Misuse of Drugs (General Provisions) (Jersey) Order 2009;
- to take the necessary steps to make "Sativex" more generally available in Jersey to those in need of this treatment, irrespective of their financial circumstances.
DEPUTY M. TADIER OF ST. BRELADE
REPORT
I have been made aware of the situation of the Petitioner, who is a Multiple Sclerosis (MS) sufferer. One of the symptoms, which are manifold, is muscle spasticity. Spasticity refers to feelings of stiffness and a wide range of involuntary muscle spasms (sustained muscle contractions or sudden movements). It is one of the more common symptoms of MS. It may be as mild as the feeling of tightness of muscles, or may be so severe as to produce painful, uncontrollable spasms of extremities, usually of the legs. Spasticity can also produce feelings of pain or tightness in and around joints, and can cause lower back pain.
It has become apparent that the conventional medicine prescribed to the Petitioner, in this case Baclofen, is not suitable, due to the severe side-effects on the petitioner.
Sativex is an oral administration spray formulated from 2 chemical extracts derived from the cannabis plant. It is licensed for use in MS-related spasticity in the UK when people have found that other medicines have not worked well or found their side- effects intolerable.
It is my hope that the Assembly will agree that it is appropriate for the Petitioner to be prescribed this medication, which both the doctor and the patient agree would be helpful for the effective alleviation of her pain and suffering.
Financial and manpower implications
There are no direct financial or manpower implications arising from the issuing of a licence to the Petitioner. There may be financial implications if Sativex is prescribed to patients who do not currently have it prescribed to them, but similarly there will be savings if they no longer need to take current medication.
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P.127/2014
APPENDIX
PETITION TO THE PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF THE STATES OF JERSEY | ||
Name of person(s) or body responsible for this petition – Ann Christine Hill | ||
These are the reasons for this petition – The Petitioner is 72 years of age, a mother and grandmother and retired qualified nurse, who was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) more than 20 years ago. For many years the Petitioner has taken medicines prescribed by consultants and her G.P. for the treatment of various symptoms. For the control of muscle spasms she was prescribed "Baclofen" which was stopped because of severe side-effects. The spasms are now more severe, but MS presents many symptoms which require treatment with a range of medications. The Petitioner is advised that "Sativex" – a medicine derived from cannabis – may be effective in the treatment or relief of her spasms and that it has already been prescribed, by virtue of a licence issued in 2008, for other patients in Jersey. But special restrictions apply, including that they pay for it privately, at a cost of about £300 to £500 per month. The Petitioner pleads to be allowed to be prescribed "Sativex". | ||
Ann Christine Hill petitions the States of Jersey as follows – The Minister for Health and Social Services is requested to issue a licence to the Petitioner for her to be professionally prescribed and supplied with "Sativex" or similar proprietary treatment in accordance with the Minister's discretionary powers under Article 12(4) of the Misuse of Drugs (Jersey) Law 1978. Furthermore, the States is asked to consider the fairness or otherwise of a situation where some people with adequate private resources can be prescribed such a medicine as "Sativex", but that an equally deserving and needy patient as the Petitioner might be refused. The Petitioner therefore further requests that the Minister makes the internationally well proven and accepted medicine "Sativex" more generally available to those in need in Jersey, regardless of their financial circumstances. | ||
Full name (please print) | Full postal address | Signature |
Ann Christine Hill | (address redacted) | (signed) |
Number of signatures: 1