Hywel Dda UHB press release, 12 August 2016: Transformation of the Chronic Pain Service
Hywel Dda University Health Board has announced changes to the way in which it treats patients suffering from chronic pain in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.
Over the past 12 months, the health board has been working with patients, clinicians and therapists to review how it provides its service for patients with chronic pain.
The new model, which has been operational since June 2016, involves a multidisciplinary team including physiotherapists, nurses, medical consultants and clinical psychologists – all of whom specialise in pain.
Patients referred into the Chronic Pain Service will be triaged by the multi-disciplinary team and referred to either a medical or a chronic pain assessment clinic. This will ensure that patients will receive advice on how best to manage their chronic pain as quickly as possible, or will be referred to an appropriate clinician/therapist, when further treatment is necessary.
The service will have an increased emphasis on self-management of chronic pain symptoms and a range of new treatment options, including:
- 12-week Pain Management Programmes
- Supported self-help sessions
- Psychological support
- Physiotherapy
- Consultation and advice regarding medicine, and
- Traditional interventions available through the medical pathway.
To ensure that the Chronic Pain Service is meeting the needs of the population, the health board will be reviewing how effective the Pain Service is by measuring how well patients are able to cope with their persistent pain, as well as their quality of life and emotional wellbeing. The health board will also consider whether there has been any improvement in patients’ mobility.
Dr Ffion John, Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Lead for the Chronic Pain Service, said:
“This new service pathway underpins Hywel Dda UHB’s organisational values in providing a fair and equitable service for our patients. It aims to improve patient experience whilst reducing waiting times.
“The chronic pain service places great emphasis on enabling patients to regain control of their health and wellbeing, focusing on joint decision making and collaborative discussion.”
For further information about the service, contact the team on 01437 834445 / 834447.
