Sapphire Medical Clinics has announced the launch of its patient-focused education service within the Sapphire Institute for Medical Cannabis Education – the group’s CPD-certified training platform for healthcare professionals.
The multi-award-winning Sapphire Medical Clinics was the first Care Quality Commission (CQC) and Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) registered clinic in the UK.
Following the launch of the CPD-certified Sapphire Institute for Medical Cannabis platform in 2020 with the aim of providing learning resources with a focus on healthcare professional training, Sapphire today revealed the expansion of the platform with educational resources for patients.
According to Sapphire, the service will “allow patients and carers of those with chronic conditions such as pain and anxiety to understand how to safely access medical cannabis treatment… with an overview of the medicine, common misconceptions, Q&A videos, a research blog and opportunities to ask questions.
Dr Simon Erridge, Head of Research and Access at Sapphire Medical Clinics, commented on the launch of the education centre for patients: “At Sapphire Medical we understand that patients and carers may have a lot of questions about treatment with medical cannabis, whether that be its legal status, how to access it safely, what conditions it can be considered for and when, and the costs involved in the medicines.
“This free patient education centre, which builds on the CPD-certified healthcare professional training available, is the first step for patients who want to find out more.
“We are constantly involving patients in our service and processes, including this education centre, and look forward to incorporating more learning ideas from patients going forward.”
The announcement has been welcomed by PLEA (Patient Led Engagement for Access). In a statement, Lucy Stafford, Advocacy Director of PLEA and Sapphire Clinics medical cannabis patient, said: “We welcome this new initiative and The Sapphire Institute’s free education centre for patients.
“Medical cannabis can be considered for a range of conditions, but patients need accurate and up to date information on treatment. PLEA’s patient working group is delighted to have provided feedback on the content and development of this Patient Education Centre.”
