Department to be asked about recommendations on medicinal cannabis use in hospitals

Cork girl Ava Barry was given medical cannabis for treatment of seizures but her mother was the only person licensed to administer it

Vera Twomey with her daughter Ava Barry in 2016. Picture: Denis Minihane.

The Tánaiste is to contact the Department of Health to ask how it plans to recommend the protocol recommended by jurors in the inquest of Cork girl Ava Barry.

The 13-year-old from Aghabullogue was provided with access to medicinal cannabis for treatment of seizures arising from a form of epilepsy called Dravet syndrome, after a campaign by her mother Vera Twomey.

An inquest into her death, held last December at Cork City Coroner's Court, heard Ava had died of bronchopneumonia in Cork University Hospital (CUH), in the early hours of May 27, 2023.

A ministerial licence was granted in 2017 by then health minister Simon Harris, allowing Ava to receive medicinal cannabis.

The coroner's court was told the treatment had resulted in a 50%-70% reduction in Ava’s seizures.

It also heard there was no local or national policy on how medicines like cannabis, granted under a special licence, are administered in hospitals.

Barrister Doireann O’Mahony told the inquest that Ava’s mother Vera had to remain in the Puffin Ward at CUH for several weeks during her daughter’s time there, as she was the only person who was licensed to give Ava her medicinal cannabis.

The coroner, Philip Comyn, noted there appeared to be a gap in national policy regarding the administration of medical cannabis in hospital settings.

After returning a verdict of natural causes in her death, the jury recommended a national policy be developed to provide for greater supervision in the administration of medicines which are subject to a special licence. 

The recommendation will be known as Ava’s Protocol.

In response to a query by Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins, Tánaiste and former health minister Simon Harris said: “I will ask the Department of Health where this is at and how it intends to act on that recommendation. 

"It is important the recommendation is taken seriously. Currently, there are two separate programmes, the legislative medical cannabis access programme, MCAP, and the administrative ministerial licence programme. I will come back to the Deputy directly on the matter.” 

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Meanwhile, current health minister Jennifer Carroll McNeill said that her departmental officials are continuing consideration of the recommendation, adding that they are not, “at this time, in a position to indicate a timeline on the conclusion or outcome of these considerations”.

Currently, recommendations made at inquests are not legally binding.

However, reform of the coronial service is currently being planned, with new legislation expected to be brought to the Government before the end of this year.