What the Integrated Pain Management HIT has achieved in 2015-16

Professor David Wynick gives an update on the work of the Integrated Pain Management Health Integration Team in 2015-16.

The Integrated Pain Management Health Integration Team (IPM HIT) aims to provide a
fully integrated, multi-disciplinary, lifespan clinical service for chronic
pain across the Bristol and Bath area.

We’ve made progress in developing a single clinical pain
database. Each member trust captures their own data, but questionnaire consistency
means similar information is now recorded across the NHS organisations. We are
also scoping a pilot multi-disciplinary pain assessment clinic, which will be
trialled by the Bristol trusts.

Our research projects include STAR, which explores long-term
pain after knee replacement surgery for osteoarthritis. We’ve submitted research
into sensory and motor dysfunction after limb fracture to the European Journal
of Pain. We’re submitting a proposal to the National Institute for Health Research Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care West (NIHR CLAHRC West) around the provision
of a self-help patient support group for chronic pain.

We have supported the pain forum for professionals, hosted
by the national specialist chronic pain service in Bath. Its programme has extended
to include an annual event in Bristol, to reflect the geographical area covered
by IPM HIT. We’re developing a list of clinical training opportunities, enabling
observational visits to clinic sessions across the IPM HIT member trusts.

Setting up a patient and public involvement group remains a
priority, to enable patient involvement in service re-design and reviewing
grant applications. We’re still recruiting contributors, and planning a
combined Bath and Bristol event during 2016.

www.bristolhealthpartners.org.uk/ipm