Patientsgiven reliefin painclinic trial

A GROUND-breaking clinic has significantly improved care for people suffering from chronic long-term pain, new research has found.

The pilot project in Leeds cut hospital referrals by half by reducing pain suffered by patients with neuropathic pain.

As many as one in five adults suffer from consistent pain which affects their lives. Neuropathic pain due to damaged nerves is one of the most difficult to treat.

Patients often compare the pain to being stung by wasps or to pins and needles.

A total of 120 patients were referred to the community clinic run by a nurse and a pharmacist – half of all chronic pain referrals received by the city’s primary care trust over a 12-month period.

Of these, only 13 were referred on for hospital care. The intensity of pain for most patients fell following treatment and nine in 10 patients said they were satisfied or better with the care they received.

Staff spent more time with patients than in hospital and it was also more cost effective.

Nikki Swarbrick is one of four patients featured in a short film made to help patients live with and manage pain thanks to the success of the project. She was left with pain following major surgery.

“The clinic encouraged me to manage my own pain and to try anything,” she said.

“There is hope for the future. It may be a lot different from how it was before but you can still live a very good life. You are your own specialist in your pain.”

Michelle Briggs, of Leeds University’s School of Healthcare, who led the research project, said neuropathic pain was common but its management was hampered by a lack of resources.

“Our main concern was that people would end up having to go on to the hospital pain clinic because there wasn’t much that a pharmacist and nurse could do to help in the new community based clinic,” she said.

“That wasn’t the case and the project has shown the potential to improve care for people in pain.”

[email protected]