Report: Medical Cannabis Reduces A&E Visits for Chronic Pain Patients

A significant new clinical report published by researchers working across four NHS trusts has found that patients prescribed medical cannabis for chronic pain experienced a 34% reduction in accident and emergency visits within the first year of treatment — a finding with major implications for NHS resource planning and pain management strategy.

The study analysed anonymised patient data from 2,147 individuals who were prescribed cannabis-based medicines between 2023 and 2025, comparing their A&E attendance rates in the 12 months before and after commencing treatment. The results represent one of the largest real-world UK datasets on medical cannabis outcomes to date.

Clinical Significance

Chronic pain is one of the most resource-intensive conditions managed by NHS emergency services, accounting for a significant proportion of all A&E presentations. Researchers estimate that a 34% reduction in attendance across the current UK medical cannabis patient population could generate savings of tens of millions of pounds annually in emergency care costs alone — savings that would grow substantially if access to prescribed cannabis were broadened.

Beyond the economic argument, the reduction in A&E visits reflects improved day-to-day symptom management for patients, reducing the crisis episodes that typically drive emergency presentations in chronic pain populations.

What the Authors Say

The study's lead author called the findings "clinically compelling" and urged NHS England to incorporate them into forthcoming pain management pathway reviews. The researchers acknowledged the need for randomised controlled trial data to confirm causality but argued that the consistency and scale of the real-world signal justifies immediate policy consideration, particularly given the low risk profile of cannabis-based medicines compared to opioid alternatives.