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Birmingham-based researchers on course to give improvements in relief for chronic pain20 November 2008A Chronic pain management service in the West Midlands aims to improve the lives of more people thanks to an award from the medical research charity, the Bupa Foundation. Chronic pain is a debilitating condition which affects 20 percent of the British population and is estimated to cost the UK tax payer approximately £5 billion per annum. In addition to the physical symptoms, chronic pain (defined as pain persisting for at least three months) causes psychological and social distress. Enabled by a laboratory and clinical research programme at Birmingham City University, the Pain Department at the Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust in the West Midlands, won the Clinical Excellence Award 2008 for developing a regional service to manage the most severe cases of chronic pain. The service is offered to only those patients who meet specific criteria and after all traditional methods of treatment have been exhausted. More than 100 patients were involved in the initial trial, over a period of more than five years, with more than 80 percent reporting at least a 50 percent reduction in pain. Professor Jon Raphael, consultant in pain medicine at Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley, said: "Psychological assessment of patients on referral is the most important step in pain management. It means we can take a holistic approach to the individual's health and wellbeing and select at an early stage those patients who are likely to obtain pain relief from this approach. All new patients can be seen in the same visit by a psychologist, physiotherapist, nurse specialist and pain anaesthetist who can then offer an integrated diagnosis and formulate the best management plan." The new service uses an interdisciplinary approach which has meant including the patient as part of the team as well as advancing the skills of staff beyond their traditional roles. Professor Raphael continued: "The project has been driven by research activity and has been very much about changing attitudes rather than funding new staff and equipment. We have trained ward nurses to give epidural top-up injections and they, in turn, have trained patients so that they can self-care at home and take more responsibility for their condition. Some patients on the behavioural pain management programme have even been trained as expert advisors and return to assist other patients in developing better coping strategies to deal with chronic pain." Bupa's group medical director and vice-chairman of the Bupa Foundation, Dr Andrew Vallance-Owen, said: "The negative impact that chronic pain has on individual people, their families, the NHS and the economy is enormous. This is a real success story and will provide help for thousands of people." Professor Jon Raphael received his Bupa Foundation Award at a ceremony at Lincoln's Inn in London on the evening of 12 November 2008. For more information about the Bupa Foundation awards, visit www.bupafoundation.com Back to the latest press releases
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