New pain management service

NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale

A new pain service across the Rochdale Borough has been commissioned by NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale CCG (HMR CCG) following guidelines about the best ways to treat chronic pain.

Pain management services are currently provided by Pennine Acute Hospitals Trust (PAHT) at Rochdale Infirmary, Oldham General, Fairfield and North Manchester. Treatments offered include medication, low level laser therapy, physiotherapy and injections.

The new service by Pain Management Solutions (PMS) will be offered at several sites across Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale. It will provide different pain management courses from General Practitioners and community venues, including exercise therapy, physiotherapy and psychological therapy. Limited use of injections will be prescribed when clinically necessary and delivered in GP surgeries.

Current service provider, Pennine Acute Hospitals Trust, will be working closely with Pain Management Solutions and HMR CCG to support the patients’ move to the new service.

A spokesperson for HMR CCG said: “Pennine Acute Hospitals Trust is continuing to see new and existing patients with chronic pain at Rochdale Infirmary until April 2017.

“From then, the CCG will work with PAHT and PMS to support the move to the new pain service where patients can access the outlined treatments.”

HMR CCG commissioned this new service following evidence from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, British Pain Society, Persistent Pain Policy Coalition, Faculty of Pain Medicine and the Royal College of General Practitioners about the best ways to treat chronic pain.

The move is expected to take place over two to three years.