Sapphire Medical Foundation is delighted to announce that it has been successful in its application for a charitable grant from The Hospital Saturday Fund.
The grant will enhance the charity’s aim to reduce the financial barriers of access to medical cannabis that may affect individuals who are unable to afford the costs associated with medical prescriptions.
The grant award is a first for the Foundation, given by The Hospital Saturday Fund – a registered charity which aims to provide assistance through its charitable funds for: registered health charities, hospices and medical organisations who are in need of grants for medical projects, care, research or support of medical training within the UK and Republic of Ireland.
Dr Simon Erridge, honorary clinical research fellow at Imperial College London and Trustee of Sapphire Medical Foundation says, “It’s a real boost to receive this grant and know that we have support for our aims as an organisation to help increase the access to medical cannabis for those who are eligible but not able to afford treatment. Despite access for patients improving since the legalisation of medical cannabis in November 2018 in the UK, Sapphire Medical Foundation is committed to tackling the financial inequalities that still exist.
“The stress of funding treatment can be difficult and can add to the burden for patients already managing often complex conditions such as chronic pain which can have a significant and negative affect quality of life.”
Sapphire Medical Foundation hosts grant rounds at specific points during the year – inviting submissions from patients who are assessed in accordance with our fair and transparent grant making principles to ensure that we provide support where it is most needed. Patient need is based on hardship or distress, caused by sickness, infirmity, disability, or any medical condition that has demonstrated evidence of affective treatment or management of symptoms with CBMPs (Cannabis Based Medicinal Products).
The Foundation will assess such applications against its principles and requires its own standards of evidence to support them.
This generous grant from The Hospital Saturday Fund will be restricted to supporting patients deemed in need of treatment via a thorough assessment of eligibility via the Foundation’s grant scheme.