Community services for pain management

The aim of the chronic pain and fatigue management service is to reduce the disability and distress associated with conditions causing chronic pain and/or fatigue eg musculoskeletal pain conditions, osteoarthritis, neuropathic pain and chronic fatigue syndrome/ME. The service aims to help people who have chronic pain and/or fatigue who have not responded to other interventions. The management programme help people to develop physical, psychological and practical techniques to enable them to improve their quality of life and reduce their reliance on health care services.

Following face-to-face or telephone screening, if a client meets the criteria for the service they will then be offered an assessment to establish suitability for the programme. The service provides pain management programmes (PMPs) at Rayners Hedge in Aylesbury and Amersham Hospital. The PMPs are led by members of an interdisciplinary team including clinical psychologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, nurse specialists and anaesthetists. Each group has up to 10 participants and meets weekly for 2.5 hours for up to 10 weeks.

The service provides chronic fatigue management programmes (CFMPs) at Rayners Hedge in Aylesbury. The CFMPs are led, again, by members of the interdisciplinary team and each group has up to 10 participants and meets weekly for 2.5 hours for 10 weeks.All participants are offered an individual review following completion of the programme and a follow up at six months.

The groups use cognitive-behavioural principles and methods. Each session has explicit objectives, with topics including pacing, relaxation, coping with thoughts and feelings, work/leisure, communication and relationships, sleep and medical management. The format of the group is interactive, participants are encouraged to share their experiences and strategies for coping. Information about chronic pain/fatigue and techniques for managing it are taught.

The team can be contacted on the following numbers:

Aylesbury (Chronic pain and fatigue):
Chronic Pain and Fatigue management Service,
Rayners Hedge, Croft Road, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP21 7RD. Tel:  01296 393319, Fax: 01296 392480

Amersham (Chronic pain):
Chronic Pain Management Programme, Amersham Hospital, Whielden Street, Amersham, HP7 0JD. Tel: 01494 734318, Fax: 01494 734699

The service is available to anyone registered with a Buckinghamshire GP and the service will accept referrals from other areas on an individual contract basis.

Referrals are accepted from Buckinghamshire GPs, consultants, other health care practitioners (occupational therapists,
physiotherapists etc) and social care professionals.

 The referral criteria are as follows:

• Age 18 or over Buckinghamshire GP or by agreed contract

• Fit and ready for the programme

• In the case of CFS, the individual must have a confirmed diagnosis of CFS/ME.

The chronic pain and fatigue management programmes are suitable for people experiencing any of the following:

• Pain/fatigue interferes with daily living

• Work is impaired

• There are periods of over activity followed by enforced rest

• There are problems in medication use

• There is a heavy reliance on equipment such as collars, walking sticks or wheelchairs

• The person is very distressed by the pain/fatigue or its consequences

• Referral can be sent by post or faxed to the chronic pain and fatigue management service at either the Aylesbury or Amersham base.