Looks like MAC aren't doing T21 anymore:
https://www.drugscience.org.uk/clinic-directory/
Just a heads up for anyone that is about to engage with them and wants to explore this route, and for anyone who is under them for T21 now. I'm not sure what this will mean for ongoing subsidised treatment.
Posted Dec 18, 2020, 3:09 PM UTC
Hopefully we will receive some info soon for existing patients, though I cant see them taking existing patients off T21.
Probably too many T21 patients not wanting Althea oils. Its really going to affect appointments availability at TMCC though.
That's what happened me, had an appointment on monday where they kind of railroaded me in to taking oils and I was just that relieved that I was eligible for medical that I went along with it till I had a couple of hours to really think about how the appointment went once we got on to the topic of prescriptions. Felt more like a sales pitch than actually taking in to account what would work best for me and how my past experience with cannabis could help inform that decision. Had seen people on here having issues with them pushing Althea before but having watched some talks given by Dr Sessa I thought he would be more open to considering patient preference. Cancelled the prescription that night and booked in with Dr Moore at the end of January. Interesting reading other people having the exact same conversation and prescription. I will say that the receptionist at MAC I dealt with, Narinder, is absolutely fucking class and a real credit to the place.
I think they are paid commission to prescribe Althea oils. As soon as I requested T21 flower the doc gave me 3 months worth of prescriptions, it was like as soon as I wasn't using Althea oil the doc wasn't really interested in follow ups. It worked out well for me, but people should be given the product most suited to them, not a product that earns the clinic the most money.
My experience is pretty much the exact same as yours (right down to Narinder, she is awesome). I enjoyed my appt with Dr Sessa and Emma, and when he said oils are usually prescribed for anxiety, I believed him. He didn't shoot me down completely on flower, he asked me to try it and would consider adding flower next month at my follow up, so I felt like it wouldn't hurt to try the Capiano and see if it benefits me (i've never tried oil before). I have previous experience in a couple aspects of the primary care sector of the NHS and have seen how prescribing works, so it makes sense to me. I was tempted to cancel before the appt and go with TMCC, I was tempted to cancel the script and make an appt with TMCC, but today I paid for my oil and it arrives Monday and I'm actually excited to see what difference it makes. When it comes to dosing, he said that I can play with the dose myself to see what suits me since I have a long history of smoking with no adverse reactions. I like that he trusts me to do it myself.
Now I'm wondering should I not follow up with MAC and go with TMCC, or persevere with MAC and see if he will indeed give flower for me on next script.
Your call, I just wasn't particularly impressed by it all once I thought about it, I've had oils in the past and personally wasnt a fan, and told him as much but he still persevered, and it was a bit much for me financially to throw in on something that I knew from experience wasn't going to be satisfactory. He also seemed to imply that flower would only ever be prescribed alongside oil and I'd have been more receptive of that if it weren't for the fact the clinic is owned by Althea who actually manufacture the oils, seems like a significant conflict of interest. I'd have preferred if I'd been given some control over the prices, even my gp lets me pick what SSRI I wanna try next like.
Not that the oil isnt decent, don't let me put you off, I just prefer flower because of the control it gives me. For me going the medical route is more about validating and building on what I already know works rather than being sold something that I'm not interested in and ending up buying flower from illicit sources in a month's time back at square one.
exactly the same experience here, Narinder & Emma were pretty nice
Yeah, this is the only downside. Luckily they seem to have a decent number of appointments still free.
Id love some clarity on wether existing T21 patients will still be getting treatment through MAC.
I think its worth saying that MAC have been a good clinic for me. I have a couple issues with their business model. That aside they have always been very professional and helpful.
Might just be worth asking directly and reporting back if you feel comfortable.
I really don’t see the issue with MAC, Dr Sunil Arora the pain specialist I’m under is more than accommodating. Communication is fine between me and them in between appointments. All I read on here is the total opposite. I just don’t understand it myself, I wanted oil and flower. Got both first time no questions asked type thing. More than happy, I guess I must just be either lucky or easily pleased.
People have been having issues with one doctor in particular and its not Arora. I've heard good things about him from another person on here. Also one of the issues has been for people wanting just flower. What flower and oil were you given out of interest? Because they also predominantly prescribe althea products.
Champlain 20/1 50ml & MVA 20/4 30g’s. £359 all in via dispensary green. Last script was filled via CBPM. Didn’t even have to ask for the MVA he told me he’s swapping me on to it due to The obvious Khiron issue. My only gripe would be that DG is slow as shit with delivery, that’s not on MAC tho. Just how it goes with 3rd party shipping. If MAC (& the other clinics) went full on Rockshaw, then prices would be much cheaper for patients dr’s prescribing their UK grown products IMO 🤔🤭
Good for your! Like I said, pain people seem to have been happy. For what it's worth, I find DG to be very good with delivery. They seem to have sorted out their earlier issues. I see you got the oil at the recently inflated price.
For me, I couldn’t give a shit about the price. I can’t make an extract myself at that consistency on % THC every single time. Plus I hate having to hunt flower via schedule 1 it’s painful. GYO isn’t an option as I have children. So, I’m actually paying less than the old schedule 1 route this way. I’m vaping way less flower now than I was because I’m getting decent oil which is helping with my pain much more than any oil that’s ever come out of my (Now redundant) Green oil Machine or my (not so redundant) Magic butter machine. I’m hoping they add more products soon. I’d love to be able to get some decent shatter etc.
My prediction ... MAC won’t be around in a few months. Communication with the clinic is poor (no response to emails recently ... speaking as an existing patient), meanwhile Althea are raising prices on some products when they really should be reducing them to stay competitive. Adapt or die MAC. No patient wants to feel like their sole purpose is to inflate your Australian stock price. And guess what, you can be as stubborn as you want with your policies but we the patients ultimately get to decide where we spend our hard-earned pounds and frankly you need us more than we need your Canadralian imports.
D’ya reckon? Be interesting to see what happens.
Good. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re trying to make a point/push Drug Science around due to the recent criticisms. Other clinics have fell short this year and have done their best to rectify the issues which is fantastic, credit due. This looks like MAC huffed and withdrew instead of addressing their issues.