Sian Jones
Red Kite Health Solutions CIC and Powys Teaching Health Board
Hear Sian and Monika talk about their project:
The introduction of an early intervention Pain Management Practitioner aims to provide an early intervention, support, and medication optimisation service through a primary care-based, Pain Management Service.
Patients who are identified as suffering from, or at risk of developing, persistent pain will be referred to intervention measures and ongoing support in the primary care setting. This includes, person-centred, holistic assessment, regular reviews, patient education and support with medication optimisation, in conjucntion with primary care clinicians and other community services.
Providing early intervention through a biopsychosocial approach, the service will provide patients with early support and appropriate care, reducing the risk of developing persistent pain and unnecessary referrals for imaging and interventions, while giving patients self-management skills and structured plans to improve the quality of their lives.
The practitioner will develop this new model of care so that it may be scaled and spread further across Wales, through the production of a CPD pack. This work will involve bridging the divide between services by working closely with primary and community colleagues to educate, refine and develop pathways, and provide a point of contact for services within primary care.
The service will provide improved access to appropriate and quality care for patients, supporting their recovery and well-being. We would anticipate savings in GP time through the availability of the pain management practitioner and a paradigm shift in the management and prescribing habits of opioid medications.There will also be a benefit across organisations from improved partnership working, with follow-up and combined management, reducing the amount of recovery time and risk-or relapse after discharge from services.
Early Project Outcomes:
The project is already reporting positive outcomes. Based on a feedback questionnaire that patients were asked to complete:
- 93% of patients were very satisfied with the service.
- 70% of patients found positive changes in their mood and emotions.
- 95% of patients found that their knowledge and understanding of the condition has improved.
- 80% of patients found that their quality of life has improved and 20% didn’t notice any changes.
- 78% would contact the service again in the future if the need arises.
Please see below for comments from clinicians and patients on their experience of the service:
