Aims of the Service
The Community Pain Management Service aims to provide a voice for individuals in chronic pain, this forms the basis of a specialist assessment whereby pain and the effect it has are explored in detail. This is followed by a collaborative, individualised, and supported process involving goal setting with an ultimate focus on self-management of one's pain.
Ethos
Our ethos is collaborative between patient and clinician. Individuals with chronic pain can work towards feeling in control and having a sense of empowerment over their symptoms, this is something we are able to guide and support with. However, we cannot directly provide this it requires work and effort from both the patient and clinician(s).
What do we offer?
Upon referral every patient is offered an individualized and patient centered assessment by a senior clinician. We provide a range of exercise groups including Tai Chi and strengthening circuits. One of our main focusses is dealing with medication concerns, we link closely to local GP and Pharmacists to support individuals to reduce their dependence on painkillers. We also aim to educate patients about pain physiology in accordance with the most up to date research and guidance, thereby providing service users with a knowledge base than can be used to support in their journey to more effective pain management.
We can offer support and advice with important lifestyle factors such as sleep hygiene and pacing. Our fibromyalgia group aims to bring together individuals to support them through their chronic pain journey and had created links with THRIVE, a group based in Winsford which aims to continue this support in the community.
Who are we?
The service utilises a multi-disciplinary team to provide a collaborative approach. This includes Clinical Lead for Chronic Pain, Advanced practitioners in chronic pain, [Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapist] and an Assistant Practitioner all with highly specialist training and years of experience in chronic pain. We are looking to expand to provide more psychological support by recruiting a clinical Psychologist.
We are based out of a range of locations including:
- Ashfields Health Centre
- Church View Medical Centre
- Weaverham Clinic
- Eagle Bridge Health Centre
- Wharton Health Centre
- Dene Drive Medical Centre
- Rope Green Medical Centre
- Victoria Infirmary Northwich
- Oaklands Medical Centre
Your initial appointment will be for 1 hour approximately face to face or over the telephone. You will be sent questionnaires to complete prior to your appointment and asked to bring these completed to your appointment.
These include -
Generalised Anxiety Disorder Assessment (GAD-7)
Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)
If you are not able to complete these please do not worry, we can complete these with you on your appointment.
Referral can be via a range of health professionals, if you wish to gain access to the Community Pain Management Service, we suggest you discuss this with GP in the first instance.
Please inform the health care professional who is referring into the service, if you have any additional needs so this can be added to the referral form and highlighted to the community pain team. The team will endeavour to support with reasonable adjustments when you are triaged, and an appointment allocated.
Below are several recourses that we would encourage you to visit before your first visit. This will facilitate our assessment and help you understand chronic pain in more depth.
Professor Lorimer Mosely, The Pain Revolution , April 2017 - YouTube
We work in partnership with our secondary care team this team consists of Consultant Anaesthetists and Acute Pain Specialist Nurses. You may have been already seen by this team prior to your referral to the community team.
Donna-Marie Lord – Clinical Lead
Donna-Marie is the Clinical Lead for the service and has a nursing background.
She has worked in chronic pain management in community settings for 15 years. She also has vast experience in acute pain management, theatres and intensive care. Donna-Marie graduated with an MSc in pain management from Leicester University. In the chronic pain service Donna-Marie specialises in opioid addiction, withdrawal and complex mental health issues along with analgesic optimisation.
She also regularly gives lectures and presents at scientific meetings. In 2022 Donna-Marie was awarded Queens Nurse for her work in the community.
Dan Ward - MSK Specialist Physiotherapist and Advanced Pain Practitioner
Dan qualified as a Physiotherapist in 2016. During his employment with the trust Dan has completed several of his junior rotations before choosing to specialise in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy and, more recently Chronic Pain. Dan has a special interest in Chronic pain, and has completed a Masters Module in the Psychosocial aspects of Pain. Dan's favourite part of his job is providing support to people with chronic pain and empowering them to self-manage their pain through a combination of education and exercise, and where appropriate a little bit of humour. Dan gets his exercise by running around after his young family, but where possible he does like to engage in cycling, kettlebell workouts and circuit training.
Dan Storey - MSK Specialist Physiotherapist and Advanced Pain Practitioner
Dan qualified as a Physiotherapist in 2013. He has a wide range of experience from his junior rotations and worked in outpatient clinics in the NHS, both locally and in Nottingham before starting to specialise in chronic pain, working as an Advanced Clinical Specialist in Chronic Pain. Dan is a member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and the Physiotherapy Pain Association and is currently studying to complete an MSc in Advanced Physiotherapy at Keele University where he has already completed modules in Pain Physiology and Psychosocial aspects of pain. Dan enjoys running and cycling and plies his trade in the Army Reserve where he is known as Captain Storey!
Stuart Cameron - Advanced Clinical Specialist – Chronic Pain, Non-Medical Prescriber and Acupuncturist
After qualifying as a Physiotherapist in 2006 Stuart began his career in Out-Patients working with a variety of musculoskeletal conditions before developing a keen interest in Chronic pain in 2015. Since then, Stuart has worked in the Community Pain Service and manages a complex patient caseload covering musculoskeletal and other long-term conditions with a Biopsychosocial approach to managing the condition.
To assist the management process he can offer Acupuncture as an adjunct to treatment and has been registered with the Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (AACP) since 2007. He also qualified as a Non-Medical Prescriber in 2016, which allows him to monitor, reduce and optimise medication in collaboration with a GP and other Healthcare Professionals.
Nicky Wood Advanced Clinical Occupational Therapist – Specialist in Pain Management
Nicky qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 2004; is HPC registered and is an active member of both The Royal College of Occupational Therapists and British Pain Society OT Forum. Nicky gained extensive post grad training at Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) covering various clinical rotations, including a Pain Management Secondment. Nicky has specialised in Major Trauma & Orthopaedics, Stroke Services and returned to Pain Management Services two years ago at The Walton Centre in Liverpool. Nicky specialises in Activity Management: pacing, planning, and prioritising; Goal Setting; Mindfulness, CBT principles along with ACT for those with complex mental health needs; and Pain Management Programmes within a Bio-Psycho-Social Model.
Nicky’s passion is Open Water Swimming in rivers, lakes and the sea; and is an active campaigner for Surfers Against Sewage and the British Divers Marine Life Rescue
Gill Green Therapy Assistant
Gill joined the community pain team in 2020, having worked in the NHS since 2002 as a Rheumatology OT assistant in various outpatient locations including Macclesfield General District Hospital and Victoria Infirmary, Northwich.
Gill enjoys working with patients to enable them to manage their pain holistically through pacing, exercise and relaxation including discussion around sleep hygiene.
Gill has a special interest in the benefits of breath work, relaxation, and mindfulness within pain management, she teaches techniques individually and through her Tai Chi group.
