Glossary · Your prescription

What is a shared care?

Shared Care

An arrangement where clinical responsibility for a patient is shared between a specialist prescriber and the patient's GP. In medical cannabis, formal shared care is uncommon as most GPs have not yet been trained in CBPM prescribing.

Where you will see it

In the guide to NHS and private treatment.

NHS and private

Related terms

  • CBPM (Cannabis-Based Medicinal Product)

    The legal term in UK law for any preparation containing cannabis, cannabis resin, cannabinol, or cannabinol derivative produced for medicinal use. Defined in the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 as amended in 2018.

  • Controlled drug prescription

    A prescription for a medicine controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations, which includes cannabis-based medicines. It is valid for 28 days from the date on it.

  • MDT (Multidisciplinary Team)

    A team of healthcare professionals from different disciplines who collaborate on patient care. Better medical cannabis clinics use MDT review before issuing prescriptions, involving specialists in the relevant condition.

  • Named Patient

    A framework allowing doctors to prescribe unlicensed medicines for individual patients with a specific unmet clinical need. Most CBPM prescriptions in the UK are issued on this basis.

  • PLEA (Patient-Led Engagement for Access)

    A UK patient organisation focused on improving access to medical cannabis for patients, conducting surveys and advocacy work.

This is a plain-language definition for general understanding, not medical or legal advice.

All 101 terms