Health Secretary ‘interested’ in non-profit funded studies as Caldwells finish 1,000-mile walk
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has expressed his interest in a groundbreaking clinic which could support greater medical cannabis access on the NHS.
The solution – spearheaded by Charlotte Caldwell – would see studies for chronically ill NHS patients carried out from the first-of-its kind I Am Billy non-profit clinic.
Charlotte received the news by email after she and son Billy completed their gruelling 1,000-mile ‘Walk with the Wizard’ from their home in Northern Ireland to London.
They were joined by supporters including ex-Rugby international Dominic Day of FourFiveCBD, United Patients Alliance founder Alex Fraser and Medisonal.
The Health Secretary was unable to meet in person due to yesterday’s lockdown announcement.
Billy and Charlotte will now wait to hear from Mr Hancock about meeting up to discuss the scheme in person.
Charlotte said:
“I’m so proud of this little boy . I can’t believe he is going to get his meeting. Today has been the biggest blessing in his little world, and I have never seen him so happy. Thank you for loving Billy.”
The Caldwells have so far raised more than £11,000 of their £15,000 funding target to support the I Am Billy Foundation.
The I am Billy campaign is backed by several MPs, clinicians, medical cannabis developers and more key industry stakeholders.
Billy was diagnosed with a severe form of epilepsy as a young child, which could see him experience hundreds of seizures per day unless he takes his cannabis medicine.
To medical cannabis patients and advocates, Billy is known as the boy who changed the law on cannabis-based medicine in the UK in November 2018.
To help Billy and Charlotte reach their £15,000 target, head over to JustGiving.
