Despite a slow start in facilitating patient access to medical cannabis treatments, this is gradually changing for the better. The UK now has an active patient base of approximately 50,000-60,000, and an estimated 80,000 individuals are expected to receive treatment with CBPMs throughout 2025.
The CQC recently reported an increase of 130% in private prescriptions for CBPMs between 2023-2024, showing steady growth year-on-year, while industry analysts have identified the UK as the second largest medical cannabis market in Europe, expected to exceed €300 million this year.
However, while patient numbers are growing steadily, there remains a shortage of trained professionals to meet the demand, particularly when it comes to facilitating access for all those who could potentially benefit.
This includes specialist clinicians who are trained in, and willing to prescribe these medicines, but also pharmacists, supply chain experts and compliance officers who understand the complexities of the regulatory space which these medicines sit within, and the need to balance increased access with high standards of care and compliance.
So, how can the industry and wider healthcare sector address this?
We sat down with Dr Sue Clenton, Medical Director at Releaf cannabis clinic, to explore the role that UK clinics can play in closing this gap, through recruiting and training the next generation of medical cannabis professionals.
Dr Sue Clenton, Medical Director, Releaf
Dr Sue Clenton: There is indeed an acute shortage of trained medical cannabis professionals. Lots of professionals have an interest in learning to prescribe but very few out there have any experience and training. This makes it hard to quickly recruit as we need to train and onboard them first. We do this at Releaf in-house and although not a major issue, many apply with no real understanding of what we do and what it entails.
SC: We find that prescribers, both medical such as specialist consultants, and non-medical such as nurses, who also play an important role in patient care and the MDT [multidisciplinary team] process, are in particularly short supply.
SC: In my experience, this almost always comes down to one of a few reasons: a lack of training and experience with CBPMs, stigma from colleagues, and a general lack of knowledge that these medicines are legal. I think these are all equally important issues which need to be addressed to encourage more prescribers into the sector.
SC: When any new health professional joins the team, they receive formal training from one of our specialist consultants. They then shadow clinics and sit in MDTs until they feel comfortable and ready to begin prescribing themselves. Once they start we offer ongoing support, which they can access as much as they need to. Clinicians also have the added reassurance that all new patients are discussed at MDT meetings before any medicines are prescribed, which serves as an additional ‘back up’ to build their confidence when starting out.
SC: The endocannabinoid system is still not widely taught at medical school, so they have to go back to the beginning and learn the basics first. Then they can be taught about the different delivery methods and intricacies of these products, such as terpene profiles. In other areas of medicine this type of tailoring to the patient is not usually possible and so this approach is often new to clinicians when they come to us.
SC: Yes absolutely, but there is still a lot of stigma around cannabis among many of these institutions which would need to be addressed first in order for this to happen.
When clinicians see the results we get, they almost always want to stay with us, to do more and see more patients. But while many clinics are set up, not all survive and this often leads to concerns around job security. They may leave or move to another clinic due to these concerns, but overall once they’ve worked in this space and seen the effects these treatments can have, they are keen to continue.
SC: At Releaf we operate a number of strict policies and protocols, and always ensure that our clinical team is adhering to these guidelines. A key part of our practice guidelines is to treat every patient as an individual, and we also monitor outcomes closely. We have invested in our own research programme to track patient-reported outcomes across a broad range of conditions. As part of the programme, all patients complete a general health-related quality of life assessment (EQ5-D), as well as disease-specific questionnaires at their first appointment, and then at one, three, six, nine and 12 months.
SC: It will take time before we see professionals being trained on medical cannabis in university and medical schools as the standard. As a result, I think most clinicians will continue to come to the sector from NHS backgrounds, at least for the foreseeable future.
SC: Only doctors on the specialist register can initiate a prescription for CBPMs, so unless there is a significant change in the legislation, the focus will remain on recruiting from within existing professions. This has other benefits too, like ensuring there is always a diversity of knowledge base among professionals coming from different backgrounds, within the sector.
The post The Talent Crunch: Where Will the Next 500 Medical Cannabis Professionals Come From? appeared first on Cannabis Health News.
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The CQC recently reported an increase of 130% in private prescriptions for CBPMs between 2023-2024, showing steady growth year-on-year, while industry analysts have identified the UK as the second largest medical cannabis market in Europe, expected to exceed €300 million this year.
However, while patient numbers are growing steadily, there remains a shortage of trained professionals to meet the demand, particularly when it comes to facilitating access for all those who could potentially benefit.
This includes specialist clinicians who are trained in, and willing to prescribe these medicines, but also pharmacists, supply chain experts and compliance officers who understand the complexities of the regulatory space which these medicines sit within, and the need to balance increased access with high standards of care and compliance.
So, how can the industry and wider healthcare sector address this?
We sat down with Dr Sue Clenton, Medical Director at Releaf cannabis clinic, to explore the role that UK clinics can play in closing this gap, through recruiting and training the next generation of medical cannabis professionals.
Dr Sue Clenton, Medical Director, Releaf
Cannabis Health: Dr Clenton, from your perspective, how acute is the shortage of trained medical cannabis professionals in the UK right now?
Dr Sue Clenton: There is indeed an acute shortage of trained medical cannabis professionals. Lots of professionals have an interest in learning to prescribe but very few out there have any experience and training. This makes it hard to quickly recruit as we need to train and onboard them first. We do this at Releaf in-house and although not a major issue, many apply with no real understanding of what we do and what it entails.
CH: Are there particular roles where you see the most pressing shortages, for example prescribers, pharmacists or compliance officers?
SC: We find that prescribers, both medical such as specialist consultants, and non-medical such as nurses, who also play an important role in patient care and the MDT [multidisciplinary team] process, are in particularly short supply.
CH: What do you think are the main barriers preventing more healthcare professionals from entering the cannabis space? How much of this is still down to stigma or lack of formal training?
SC: In my experience, this almost always comes down to one of a few reasons: a lack of training and experience with CBPMs, stigma from colleagues, and a general lack of knowledge that these medicines are legal. I think these are all equally important issues which need to be addressed to encourage more prescribers into the sector.
CH: You mentioned that most professionals come to you with little knowledge of CBPMs, how does Releaf currently train and upskill its clinicians?
SC: When any new health professional joins the team, they receive formal training from one of our specialist consultants. They then shadow clinics and sit in MDTs until they feel comfortable and ready to begin prescribing themselves. Once they start we offer ongoing support, which they can access as much as they need to. Clinicians also have the added reassurance that all new patients are discussed at MDT meetings before any medicines are prescribed, which serves as an additional ‘back up’ to build their confidence when starting out.
CH: Are there unique elements to training on CBPMs compared to other areas of medicine? And can you talk us through some of these?
SC: The endocannabinoid system is still not widely taught at medical school, so they have to go back to the beginning and learn the basics first. Then they can be taught about the different delivery methods and intricacies of these products, such as terpene profiles. In other areas of medicine this type of tailoring to the patient is not usually possible and so this approach is often new to clinicians when they come to us.
CH: Do you think partnerships with universities or professional bodies could help accelerate this understanding and increase workforce growth?
SC: Yes absolutely, but there is still a lot of stigma around cannabis among many of these institutions which would need to be addressed first in order for this to happen.
CH: Once they are on board, what is it that motivates clinicians to stay in the field of cannabis medicine, and what factors risk losing them?
When clinicians see the results we get, they almost always want to stay with us, to do more and see more patients. But while many clinics are set up, not all survive and this often leads to concerns around job security. They may leave or move to another clinic due to these concerns, but overall once they’ve worked in this space and seen the effects these treatments can have, they are keen to continue.
CH: How do you ensure that as the clinic grows, the quality of patient care remains consistent?
SC: At Releaf we operate a number of strict policies and protocols, and always ensure that our clinical team is adhering to these guidelines. A key part of our practice guidelines is to treat every patient as an individual, and we also monitor outcomes closely. We have invested in our own research programme to track patient-reported outcomes across a broad range of conditions. As part of the programme, all patients complete a general health-related quality of life assessment (EQ5-D), as well as disease-specific questionnaires at their first appointment, and then at one, three, six, nine and 12 months.
CH: Looking to the future, in five years, where do you see the bulk of new cannabis professionals coming from — traditional NHS backgrounds, private healthcare, or newly trained graduates?
SC: It will take time before we see professionals being trained on medical cannabis in university and medical schools as the standard. As a result, I think most clinicians will continue to come to the sector from NHS backgrounds, at least for the foreseeable future.
CH: Do you think the sector should focus more on recruiting from within existing healthcare professions, or developing cannabis-specific career pathways?
SC: Only doctors on the specialist register can initiate a prescription for CBPMs, so unless there is a significant change in the legislation, the focus will remain on recruiting from within existing professions. This has other benefits too, like ensuring there is always a diversity of knowledge base among professionals coming from different backgrounds, within the sector.
The post The Talent Crunch: Where Will the Next 500 Medical Cannabis Professionals Come From? appeared first on Cannabis Health News.
Continue reading...
