RELIEF FOR BILLY Billy Caldwell gets emergency licence for him to use medicinal cannabis back at home

The 12-year-old, whose heart-breaking tale of living with epilepsy sparked a national debate, will get access to his medication in Northern Ireland

By Natasha Clark

 

BILLY Caldwell has been granted an emergency licence so he can use medicinal cannabis back in Northern Ireland.

The 12-year-old, whose heart-breaking tale of living with epilepsy sparked a national debate, will get access to his medication when he flies back to Belfast, it was confirmed today.

Officials made the announcement following a desperate last-minute plea from Billy's mum Charlotte, who said the Department for Health wouldn't promise he would be able to get it when he got home.

Last month Billy was granted an emergency 20-day licence to use it after he was admitted to hospital following multiple seizures.

And ministers promised a review on using medicinal cannabis in Britain.

Billy and his mum were all set to go home, but said they could not until officials in Northern Ireland said she would be allowed to treat him at home with THC-based cannabis oil to keep his seizures under control.

Today the Department for health said: "The Department of Health yesterday received an emergency licence application from Belfast Trust clinicians regarding medicinal cannabis use for Billy Caldwell.

"An emergency licence has today been issued by the Department, replicating the licence issued last month by the Home Office for treatment at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London.

"We have also been in discussions with the Home Office to finalise arrangements for the immediate transportation of Billy’s medicine from London to the Belfast Trust."

The pair will fly into Belfast later today, but it is unclear whether Billy will be able to use the medicine in his home.

The pair could have to travel from their home in Castlederg to Belfast to get it.

On Tuesday he was allowed to take the medicine with him back to Northern Ireland, after the Home Office agreed a special exemption licence.

His Mum said yesterday: “I can’t believe he’ll be back in his own bed in a few days.”

Billy - who has been diagnosed with intractable epilepsy - had to be rushed to hospital after suffering a severe fit following the withdrawal of his illegal medication, and his case has raised pressing legal questions.

His family say that after taking illegal high concentrate cannabis oil he had not had a fit in 250 days — until it was confiscated by the Home Office.