Approved but denied

Sativex is a cannabis based spray. It has been approved across the UK to treat 'moderate' to 'severe' spasticity when other treatments haven’t worked.

Many people with MS are still being denied access to Sativex because their local health bodies aren't prescribing it. This has resulted in an unacceptable postcode lottery.

We launched our Approved but Denied campaign in August 2021 to improve access to Sativex for eligible patients. Back then, Sativex was funded in only 49 out of 106 local health bodies called Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs).

Over 2000 of you joined our call for change and took action to ask your local CCG to start prescribing Sativex. Every CCG in England which was not prescribing Sativex has now been contacted by campaigners. We briefed 345 MPs about the issue in their area, and mobilised dozens of them to take up the case.

What’s happened since we launched our campaign?

One year on, we’ve seen some great results! By June 2022, the number of CCGs who state they routinely fund Sativex increased by 45%. A list of these CCGs is at the bottom of this page.

Jump to CCGs list

But we know there’s still more to do. We want Sativex to be available to everyone who's eligible. We’re planning the next stage of the campaign for next year.

We’re also aware that local NHS structures have changed. In July this year, new NHS bodies called Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) replaced CCGs, which were legally dissolved.

We hope these changes won’t affect access to Sativex, but we'll continue to monitor the situation.

What does this mean for people with MS?

Your old CCG might've made the decision to fund Sativex for eligible patients. If this applies to you, it may be worth talking to your healthcare professional about whether you're suitable for treatment.

Find your old CCG on the NHS' website

See how CCGs are matched with new ICSs on the NHS' website

It’s important to remember that Sativex doesn’t work for everyone. But when it does, the impact can be life changing. Our Sativex report explores this in more detail.

Download our Sativex report (2.7MB)

Take action

You can still help eligible people with MS access Sativex across the UK. Find out if Sativex is available in your area.

If it isn't, you can email your local health body, called an Integrated Care Board (ICB), to ask them to prescribe this potentially life-changing drug.

Take our Sativex action

What about access to Sativex in other UK nations?

Wales

Sativex has been approved for use on the NHS in Wales since 2014. We’re still working with Health Boards to make sure services for people with MS are available as the NHS builds back from the impact of the pandemic. If you’d like to share with us your experience of trying to access Sativex, please email [email protected].

Northern Ireland

Sativex was approved for use in April 2021. Our monitoring suggests people with MS who meet the criteria are being offered the treatment after discussing with their consultant. If you're having any issues accessing Sativex, please let us know by emailing [email protected]

Scotland

The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) announced on Monday 12 September that Sativex will be available to adult NHS patients who experience moderate to severe spasticity due to MS, where other treatments haven’t worked.

Before the announcement, Sativex was approved for use on the NHS in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, but not in Scotland. Although a limited number of people have been able to access it via the Peer Approved Clinical System (PACS) Tier 2 individual patient treatment request process.

It may now be worth reopening conversations with your healthcare provider if you live in Scotland and have previously been denied access to Sativex.

Join our #ApprovedButDenied campaign