In her bi-weekly series for Cannabis Health, Dr Sue Clenton, Consultant Oncologist and Medical Director at Releaf Cannabis Clinic, shares her insight from the frontline of an emerging field of medicine, taking readers inside the clinic and offering a doctor’s perspective on what it really means to prescribe cannabis medicines in the UK today
In her latest edition, she explains how the clinic combines innovation with empathy to improve patient care.
The challenges and limitations of mainstream healthcare are widely acknowledged by patients and professionals alike.
In my role as medical director at Releaf Cannabis Clinic, I have the privilege of speaking to patients every day about their health, their challenges, and often their frustrations with the healthcare system.
Many say they feel unheard, unempowered, and uninvolved in discussions about their own condition and treatment options.
There are many contributing factors to this. Limited resources and time restrictions mean patients often feel hurried during appointments, and don’t have the opportunity to discuss their symptoms and concerns at length.
Financial restraints within the NHS mean certain medications and alternative treatments are not offered, and patients tell me they have felt pushed towards a certain resolution or have to ‘make do’ with ineffective treatments, often causing multiple side effects without improving their condition.
Healthcare should be a partnership between the patient and the clinician, but sadly, this is often not the case. Patients feel they have little choice but to either accept less-than-perfect treatments or seek out alternative options.
Patient Experience 2.0: changing the dynamic
Medical cannabis clinics have not only provided patients with an additional treatment option, but they have highlighted the extent of unmet need within the system.
At Releaf, Patient Experience 2.0 is about changing that dynamic. This means truly working with the patient, collecting feedback in multiple ways to ensure constant improvement.
We consult with patients extensively, talking through the available treatment options, as well as the potential benefits and risks. Although a prescription must always be issued on the recommendation of the responsible clinician, we try to ensure the decision is made with full discussion and agreement on both sides.
Tech as a tool for change
Technology can also be an enabler for positive change, especially when it comes to improving patient experience and accessibility.
Our tech is state-of-the-art and helps with the day-to-day running of the clinic, but it also helps us remain accessible to our patients and supports them to stay in control of their healthcare, while still allowing for human touch points. Our large clinical and patient support team means we are always available for queries and appointments, which allows us to deliver individual care on an ever-growing scale.
Many patients are very nervous and apprehensive, especially during the initial consultation. We use a face-to-face appointment platform, which means patients can talk to our clinicians on video as if they are in the same room. Developing a rapport can help make them more comfortable disclosing their health journey to us.
Integrated systems also allow clinicians to access GP records, medications, clinic notes, and patient-reported outcome measures all in one place, making processes more joined-up and efficient for both patient and doctor.
Maintaining humanity in healthcare
Of course, while digital health is evolving rapidly – and showing no signs of slowing down – we must balance this with maintaining humanity in healthcare. Human connection is crucial for establishing trust and empathy between a doctor and a patient.
Patient outcomes and safety are at the heart of all of our policies and procedures. Any new processes are risk-assessed and constantly reviewed to help us improve in terms of both outcomes and satisfaction.
As patients become more informed and empowered to take control of their own health, the NHS is creaking and groaning under the strain.
Medical cannabis clinics have an opportunity to address this unmet need by ensuring accessible, effective treatments remain possible. If we can ensure this, we will ensure these options will remain available to patients in the future.
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