Pain Management

Introduction

Pain Management is the medical discipline concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of the entire range of painful disorders.

Because pain impacts on many aspects of people’s lives, pain management is a multi-disciplinary sub-specialty. After assessment by the Consultants in Pain Management, the expertise of a number of disciplines is brought together in an effort to provide the maximum benefit to each patient using a wide range of therapeutic approaches both to attempt to relieve the pain and to equip and empower patients to manage their pain.

Services Provided

The Pain Management Service in Gloucestershire is well established, with active multi-disciplinary Pain Clinics at both the main hospitals as well as at a number of the peripheral sites. A wide range of treatment and management techniques are used.

As well as the specialist Pain Management clinics, we also run a county-wide Pain Management Programme, with groups running in Gloucester and Cheltenham (and Ross on Wye, currently only for Herefordshire residents).

Referral for Acupuncture, Psychology and the Pain Management Programme are made within the clinic after medical assessment of the patients. We are unable to accept direct referrals for these services.

We are also actively involved in training doctors and others in Pain Management: we are one of the centres approved by the Royal College of Anaesthetists for specialist training of future Pain Consultants and the Advanced Pain trainee works alongside the Consultants in the Pain Service. We regularly provide placements for trainee AHP’s.

The Department provides the following Outpatient Services.

• Pain Management Service

The Pain Clinic Operating lists are based in the Chedworth Suite in Cheltenham General, Beeches Ward in Cirencester and the Day Surgery Unit at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.

Contact Details

For contact details please see individual Clinician's page.

Our Staff

There are five Pain Consultants who each lead a team of specialist doctors, nurses, psychologists and other staff. As a patient you may be seen by the clinician or by a doctor or nurse within their team. The clinician has overall responsibilty for your care.

In addition to the two main Hospitals the Pain Consultants hold Outpatient Clinics at Berkeley, Cirencester, Dilke Memorial, Ross Community, Stroud and Tewkesbury Hospitals.

Cheltenham General Hospital

Outpatient Clinics take place in West Block Outpatients Department.
Inpatient and Day Case Services are carried out at Cheltenham General Hospital.

• Dr. James De Courcy
• Dr. Jonathan Francis

Gloucestershire Royal Hospital

Outpatient Clinics take place in the General Outpatients Department.
Inpatient and Day Case Services are carried out at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.

• Dr. Patrick Clarke
• Dr. Paul Hardy

Cirencester Hospital

Outpatient Clinics take place in the Main Outpatients Department.
Inpatient and Day Case Services are carried out at Cheltenham General, Gloucestershire Royal, Cirencester or Stroud General Hospital.

• Dr. Jonathan Francis

Dilke Memorial Hospital

Outpatient Clinics take place in the Main Outpatients Department.
Inpatient and Day Case Services are carried out at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.

• Dr. Paul Hardy

Ross Community Hospital

Outpatient Clinics take place in the Main Outpatients Department.
Inpatient and Day Case Services are carried out at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.

• Dr. Paul Hardy

Tewkesbury Hospital

Outpatient Clinics take place in the Main Outpatients Department.
Inpatient and Day Case Services are carried out at Cheltenham General Hospital.

• Dr. James De Courcy

Administrative Staff

Dr. Clarke, Dr. Hardy and Dr Harper’s secretaries at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital: - Jackie Barker-Smith and Anja Bachmann
Dr. De Courcy and Dr. Francis secretary at Cheltenham General Hospital: - Susanne Murray
Support Secretary at Cheltenham General Hospital – Sylvia Hadland
Secretary to the Pain Management Programme team – Kath Harris

Waiting Times

Additional Information

Gloucestershire Pain Management Manual
Gloucestershire Pain Management Video

Recent Research Publications: -

Sleep and Disability, the mediating role of pain and depression
The validity of the cognitive behavioural model of insomnia for people with chronic pain.

Ongoing Research Interests: -

Promoting patient partnerships in Pain Management
A Pain Management Introductory Session - A real chance to "Choose and Book"
Sleep problems in the context of chronic pain
Application of mindfulness for people with chronic pain
Helping people return to work

Links

Please find below Links to other Websites that may be of interest to you.

• The British Pain Society
  

• The International Association for the Study of Pain