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Whole Country Will Suffer from Lack of Pain Treatment
Inadequate treatment and diagnosis of chronic pain affects us personally and nationally.
An online radio show is highlighting the long-term costs of insufficient specialist treatment for people with chronic pain.
Airing Pain, the radio series created by the charity Pain Concern, says that the whole nation will suffer if the problem is not addressed urgently.
This gap in treatment is due to inadequate services and the length of time it takes to be referred, perhaps because many GPs do not fully understand chronic pain.
The show builds on the findings of a European Symposium earlier this year [see Editors Note below]. Airing Pain discusses how chronic pain should be acknowledged as a condition in its own right; and the human right to access pain management without discrimination.
In failing to meet these aims, the medical community is failing individuals living with chronic pain and in turn burdening the national economy. In addition to initial healthcare costs, there are the long term costs associated with loss of employment and benefits. By preventing chronic pain, it is thought these economic and social burdens can be reduced.
Michael Matheson, Scottish Minster for Public Health, said:
“We remain committed to ensuring that people living with long term conditions, including chronic pain, get the earliest possible, and most appropriate treatment locally, but with ready access to specialist services when needed.
“Following the publication of the GRIPS report, ‘Getting to GRIPS (Getting Relevant Information on Pain Services) with Chronic Pain in Scotland’, we have recognised chronic pain as a long term condition in its own right. Our top priority for improving services for people living with pain is to help make sure the Scottish Service Model on Chronic Pain is implemented.
“This model of care utilises voluntary sector organisations and other sources of support to ensure that problems are identified sooner rather than later to help reduce disability, improve quality of life and help people to continue to have a rewarding and productive working life”.
Shows are broadcast fortnightly on Tuesdays and Sundays at 8pm at www.ableradio.com. Previous podcasts are also available for download at: http://www.painconcern.org.uk/category/airing-pain
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Notes to Editor
Airing Pain, created by Pain Concern, provides valuable information on living with chronic pain, the conditions that cause it, and how to manage it. Pain Concern is a charity dedicated to educating and empowering the 7.8 million people in the UK living with chronic pain.
The European Federation of IASP® Chapters’ (EFIC) discussion took place at the 2nd European Societal Impact of Pain Symposium earlier this year
Approximately 25% of people living with chronic pain will eventually lose their jobs.
For more information please visit our website www.painconcern.org.uk
Contact: Laura-Jane Cameron, Publicity Officer media@painconcern.org.uk 0131 669 5951
