A MULTIPLE sclerosis sufferer has lost his fight to have his life-changing medication funded by the NHS.

Philip Grace, 60, spends £440 a month on specialist drug, Sativex, which is intended for patients who find their medicine is not providing good enough relief from their symptoms.

Since he began using the cannabis-based drug a year ago, he has been able to walk almost pain-free for the first time since he was diagnosed with MS 13 years ago and is sleeping through the night.

The NHS in England does not routinely fund the drug, but it is available in Wales.

Mr Grace, of of Chrismund Way, in Great Tey, had hoped to meet the Mid-Essex Clinical Commissioning Group’s exceptional cases criteria, but he had been told he has missed out.

He said: “I am genuinely furious.

“They are hiding behind a budget, which is wrong.

“If I was in prison, I would be looked after better.

“I can’t emphasise just how much this improves my quality of life.”

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