The smart entrance to the Sapphire Medical Clinic looks much like any other private practice on Harley Street in London.
But there is something very different about this one. It’s not the staff — the doctors here are all leading experts with roles as NHS consultants. It’s what they are prescribing that marks them apart.
Last October, the Sapphire became the first clinic in the UK to be approved by healthcare watchdog the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to prescribe medical-grade cannabis.
Four other clinics have since registered with the CQC, and the regulator is in discussion with five more.
Jacqui Ward, 63, pictured left, suffered from fibromyalgia, leaving her in chronic pain, as well as with sleeping problems, brain fog and anxiety. Leigh Sherman, 38, pictured right, came to the Sapphire after previously ‘self-medicating’ with illegal cannabis for severe anxiety
The patients who’ve come to the Sapphire Clinic often feel they have exhausted other options.
Typical is Jacqui Ward, 63, a recently retired businesswoman and grandmother of three.
For years she’s suffered from fibromyalgia, leaving her in chronic pain, as well as with sleeping problems, brain fog and anxiety.
Jacqui describes the treatment offered by her GP as ‘miserable’.
‘All he did was give me pills to help me sleep and antidepressants, but they didn’t help much and caused…