Mother of young girl from Clare with epilepsy leads campaign for medical cannabis law reform
A staunch campaigner fighting for reform over the application process of medicinal cannabis is urging people to galvanise support by lobbying Parliament.
Tannine Montgomery, whose six-year-old daughter, Indie-Rose, suffers from severe epilepsy, was joined by fellow campaigners during an annual event on Sunday to raise awareness about the lack of prescriptions granted since new legislation was introduced.
Concerned about the lack of progress, Miss Montgomery, of Maxim Lane in Clare, said: “Over a year ago, we met Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who promised access to medicinal cannabis via the normal route.
“However, we still have no access to this medication and this is causing my family, and many others, to be left suffering with seizures, anxiety and pain; and the only access is coming from costly, private prescriptions.”
Unable to obtain medication on the NHS, Miss Montgomery and her partner, Anthony, have been forced to source their own from the Netherlands.
Frustrated about the discrepancies in the new law, Miss Montgomery emphasised that it had failed to adhere to guidance outlined by an independent health and social care body.
“Guidelines by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence state that a decision on prescribing medicinal cannabis must be made by the clinicians and patients, or their carers, but these guidelines are not being followed,” she said.
During the coronavirus lockdown, Indie-Rose’s health has seriously deteriorated due to a significant reduction in medicinal cannabis.
Encouraging people to pledge their support to the campaign, Miss Montgomery added: “I would urge anyone who would like to see this problem resolved to write to Matt Hancock, and their own MP, to ask them why access is so restricted.”
