Study finds variations in chronic pain management, UK

[Guest guest]

Study finds variations in chronic pain management, UK

10 Nov 2004

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=16185

Campaigners are calling on the NHS to improve the level of pain

management offered to chronic illness patients.

A study carried out by independent healthcare researchers on behalf of

the Long-term Medical Conditions Alliance (LMCA) and the Patients'

Association discovered that patients often receive inadequate support to

deal with chronic pain.

The LMCA estimates that one in three people in the UK is currently

living with a long-term medical condition and called for the NHS to

focus more on the needs of those living with long-term illnesses.

Of the 344 Primary Care Organisations (PCOs) in the UK, 70 per cent

provided no guidelines or recommendations for the management of

non-cancer pain, the study found.

According the Press Association, only eight per cent supported further

GP training in the area.

" In summary, the provision and organisation of primary care chronic pain

management services across the UK is highly variable, " the research

said.

" PCOs acknowledge that there is insufficient money allocated to primary

care chronic pain services and that specified budgets should be

introduced to address this. "

http://www.hda-online.org.uk