Mother pleads for son to get medicinal cannabis at home

Billy, who has a rare form of epilepsy, was granted a short-term licence by the Home Office to allow him access to cannabis oil.

His mother Charlotte says the medication helps to control his seizures.

Charlotte Caldwell called for her son to be treated at home (Brian Lawless/PA)

But Ms Caldwell said her son, who is also autistic, has been traumatised by the experience of being away from home and familiar surroundings for so long.

The department of health has been granted a licence for the medicine but Billy must receive his two doses a day at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.

The hospital is a two hour drive from the Caldwell home in Castlederg, Co Tyrone.

It is understood that negotiations remain ongoing within government departments to secure a longer term solution.

Ms Caldwell said the circumstances where they are faced with two four-hour round trips a day for Billy’s medicine are tantamount to “child abuse”.

“Billy’s meds have been delivered to the Belfast Trust, but its arrival there is far from a victory for Billy or common sense,” she said.

Billy Caldwell has a rare form of epilepsy (Brian Lawless/PA)

“Billy has effectively been placed under hospital arrest.

“Over the course of the last three weeks, Billy has had exemplary treatment from doctors at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.

“Billy had his last dose of medicinal cannabis from Dr Alexander who has urged the Home Office and Northern Ireland department of health to let Billy go home. The Home Office has endorsed this recommendation.

“The contrast between the speed and compassion shown by the Home Secretary and health professionals in London and the silence and inaction of the health authorities in Northern Ireland is deeply troubling.

“Tonight I am asking those responsible here in Belfast to endorse the recommendation of the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, act on the recommendation of the Home Office.

“There are practical ways that this can happen. Perhaps by a district nurse administering Billy’s medicinal cannabis in the comfort of his own home.

“I am urging everyone responsible to consider all options available.

“The alternative is to enact a policy that amounts to nothing less than child abuse and child cruelty at the highest level against my little boy.”

Ms Caldwell said she was also thinking of the hundreds of families in Northern Ireland, and thousands across the UK in the same situation as her and Billy.

Billy was due to get his second dose at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast at 10pm on Thursday night.

Supported by West Tyrone MP Orfhlaith Begley at a Belfast hotel, Ms Caldwell vowed to keep fighting for her son.

“We have been told by the Belfast Trust that Billy can only be administered his anti-epileptic medication by doctors in the hospital.

“Billy needs his medicine twice a day, 10am and 8pm. It takes a few seconds to administer,” she said.

“I, as Billy’s mummy know far more about administering his meds than any hospital.

“It’s utterly crazy that Billy is being subjected to this sort of child abuse. He is autistic, he hasn’t got a voice. He needs the familiar surroundings of his own home, his own bed, his own toys and his own garden. We have to go home.

“As it stands we have to either move to Belfast or make two four hour trips a day from our home in Castlederg.

“But we have gone into battle twice before and we have won, we are ready for the next round.

“I am not ever going to give up on my little boy.”

Earlier a department of health spokeswoman said: “The Department has authorised a 14 day emergency licence to the Belfast Trust to allow for the treatment of Billy Caldwell which replicates the arrangements of the emergency licence issued by the Home Office last month.

“All of these matters require careful consideration and involve clinical and legal considerations. The granting of the emergency licence today reflects the clinical need to ensure continuity of treatment for Billy, given his mother’s decision to bring him home.”