Pain management service

The West Essex Community Pain Management Service helps people in West Essex who have persistent pain. (also known as chronic or long-term pain). GPs in West Essex and some hospital consultants at Princess Alexandra Hospital can refer people to the service.

Supported pain self-management aims to help people improve their understanding of persistent pain and learn how to handle it on their own. This includes building confidence and learning skills to live a good life and manage their pain.

We offer face-to-face appointments, or telephone and video appointments. Workshops take place online through Microsoft Teams or in small groups at Epping St Margaret's Hospital.

Our team includes consultant anaesthetists in pain medicine, specialist nurses, specialist physiotherapists and psychologists. We work with Herts and West Essex Integrated Care Board and community based pharmacy teams. Depending on your needs, you might work with one or all the team. We also partner with other community groups and healthcare services.

Many things can affect pain, such as lack of sleep, stress or worry and our social situations. Our workshops help you understand the affects pain has on the body and mind and how this can negatively affect activities and lifestyle.

During your journey with our team, you will set your own goals based on what is important to you and would like us to help you achieve. Our team focus on helping you get back to doing the things you enjoy and are of value to them.

What is persistent pain?

Over 28 million people in the UK live with persistent pain. Persistent (or chronic) pain is pain that lasts for more than three to six months. For most people who have sustained an injury, the pain stops within three months as the body’s healing process has been completed. This is known as ‘acute’ or ‘short-term’ pain. However, for some people the pain can continue after six months, even though the body’s tissues have healed. Musculo-skeletal pain can also persist without a known injury or cause.

There is no one-size-fits-all cure for persistent pain. However, all the research and evidence suggests that a combination of education, physical activity, and psychological approaches can be helpful in managing symptoms. For some people, medication may have short-term benefits but for many it is not effective and can cause side effects.

Persistent pain can be very frustrating and can prevent people from doing the things they enjoy. People who have persistent pain often report low mood and a reduction in their usual activities. The community pain service uses a holistic approach to the management of persistent pain.

Who the service is for

The service is provided in partnership by Princess Alexandra Hospital Trust (PAHT) and Essex Partnership University Trust (EPUT). GPs within the West Essex CCG, hospital consultants, and MSK physiotherapists can refer to our service.

We currently offer our service from different locations across west Essex including;

• Epping
• Harlow
• Bishop’s Stortford
• Saffron Walden

Introduction Presentation

Once we have accepted your referral to the service, a member of our administration team will contact you and invite you to the introduction presentation. The presentation lasts about 45 minutes to an hour long and is delivered virtually online through Microsoft Teams. You will need an internet connection, an email address and a laptop or tablet to access the workshops. If you do not have internet access, please do not worry, our administrative team will help you.

The Introduction Presentation has been designed to help you understand the key principles of pain management and prepare you for your journey with our service. The science and research around chronic or persistent pain has changed a lot over the last 30 years and approaches to managing pain have changed. Our Service ethos embraces these changes and our approach reflects all the national, international and NICE guidance for the management of chronic /persistent pain.

Following the Introduction Presentation, you are able to opt in or opt out of the pain management service. If you opt in, our administration team will offer you an individual assessment appointment in one of our four locations preferred by you.  We will send you a letter confirming the date, place, and time of your appointment, as well as a self-assessment form.  Please complete the self-assessment form and bring it with you to your appointment.  The information provided will help us understand how your pain affects you. This information will help to guide the initial assessment.  We understand that pain is a unique and individual experience and that the management plan for each person will be different.

What to expect

You can expect the initial assessment to last between 45 and 60 minutes. You may undergo a clinical examination during the assessment, so please wear comfortable clothing.  At the end of the assessment, you will have time to discuss what you would like us to help you with, and together we will support you to decide what is best for you.

Next Steps presentation

After the assessment, you may be invited to attend our Next Steps presentation. This presentation summarises the different education and pain management group workshops we offer, and gives you a chance to choose the workshops you feel will be most beneficial to you. None of the workshops are mandatory; however research has shown that people who are actively involved in the management of their pain condition, develop a better understanding of it, and are able to manage their condition better.

What if someone feels that the service offered is not for them?

The most important thing is that you feel ready to work in partnership with our service. If you do not feel this service is for you, then you do not have to attend and can decline the appointment when we contact you. Your GP will continue to monitor the your care. The GP can refer you to our service again later if it is then appropriate.

You can referred to our service by your;

• GP
• MSK specialist or physiotherapy department
• Hospital consultant

The clinicians who refer to us are aware of our acceptance criteria. Most referrals are made via the NHS electronic referral system, or e-RS.

Once your referral has been triaged by our team, you will receive an invite to the Introduction presentation as outlined above.

Healthcare professional

If you are a clinician looking to refer a patient to the WECPMS and would like to know more about what we offer or how to make a referral, please visit the West Essex ICS webpage.  

If you have any questions about referrals to the service, please contact the administration team.
Email: epunft.mskpainmanagement@nhs.net

Telephone: 0344 257 3965 option 2

Telephone lines open Monday to Friday, 09.00-16.00