Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many children with drug-resistant epilepsy have been prescribed cannabis-based medicinal products through private prescriptions in each of the last three years; and what assessment his Department has made of trends in the level of access to cannabis-based medicinal products for children with severe epilepsy unable to afford private prescriptions.

The NHS Business Services Authority does not hold the information in the form requested. National Health Service or private controlled drug prescription forms to do contain information on the condition being treated, or why a medicine has been prescribed.

No assessment has been made of trends in the level of access to cannabis-based medicinal products for children with severe epilepsy unable to afford private prescriptions.

The Department does not make provision for the funding of medicines outside of the NHS’ commissioning systems and it remains that the cost of treatments sought privately are the responsibility of patients.