Achievements and performance

Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the financial period

MAIN ACTIVITIES

  • The commencement of a series of fortnightly internet radio programmes to run through the latter quarter of 2010 and 2011. Called Airing Pain, the internet radio show and podcasts can be downloaded at www.ableradio.com and www.painconcern.org.uk.
  • Helpline: two new volunteers, Kim and Ailish, started training in 2010. They will start the helpline in 2011.
  • Information Service: we have processed 866 requests for leaflets and magazines.
  • Pain Matters magazine, 2 issues are published.4 issues are planned for 2011. Margaret Floate has agreed to act as our advertising manager for 2011.
  • Scottish Parliament’s Cross Party Group on Chronic Pain: Pain Concern provides administrative support to the parliamentary group. Two meetings of the group, in March and November, were organised by Co-Secretaries Andrea Ma and Heather Wallace, ssisted by Rachel Barr, Lina Ma, Sam Horobin, Katie Druce

 

EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: AD HOC MEETINGS

  • Patient’s Association, Public Attitudes to Pain, 9 March, attended by Heather Wallace and Sue Clayton.
  • British Pain Society Annual Scientific Meeting, April 2010: exhibition stand and interviewing organised by Kiera Jones and Heather Wallace
  • North British Pain Society Spring Event, May 2010: exhibition stand and interviewing organised by Doug Caldow
  • EFIC’s Society Impact of Pain Conference, 4-5 May, Brussels, Heather Wallace attended.
  • House of Lords, Westminster: Lord Luce’s debate on Chronic Pain 7July, Heather Wallace was in public gallery.
  • Scottish Parliament, Friends of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Conditions Group, 2 May, attended by Heather Wallace.
  • Capita Conference on Pain Management, 8 July, Sue Clayton and Heather Wallace from Pain Concern were plenary speakers; Chris Hughes also attended)
  • British Pain Society, Voluntary Sector Seminar, Bringing Pain Management Closer to Home, 12 October, Sue Clayton, Chris Hughes, Heather Wallace, David Deacon attended.
  • Grunenthal Expert Group, Ensuring Equity and Excellence in Pain Management, 25 November, Heather Wallace attended.
  • National Voices, Chris Hughes and Sue Clayton met with chief executive, 9 November, to discuss chronic pain.
  • Pfizer’s Can You Feel My Pain? roadshow in shopping centres throughout UK, Pain Concern attended 2 roadshows on 1st October (Ashford, Kent) and 9th October (Staines)
  • Pfizer staff training on chronic pain, 2nd November, keynote speaker was Kirsty Russell from Pain Concern.
  • Scottish Parliament, Friends of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Conditions Group, 26 October, attended by Rachel Barr.
  • Royal College of General Practitioners, Clinical Priority 2010-13, Chronic Pain, key stakeholders meeting, 20 October, attended by Sue Clayton and Chris Hughes.
  • NICE, Heather Wallace attended scoping meeting on Headache (July 2010); Sue Clayton and Rachel Barr attended Tapentadol Palexia scoping meeting (November 2010).
  • Houses of Commons, Westminster, All Party Group on Chronic Pain reception 14 December, attended by Chris Hughes, Anne Damerell, Sue Clayton, Heather Wallace

 

EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: REGULAR EVENTS

  • East of Scotland Pain Group, meetings attended by Andrea Ma, Doug Caldow, Heather Wallace, Senga Temple, David Deacon.
  • Long Term Conditions Alliance Scotland (meetings attended by Marion Beatson)
  • Neurological Alliance (meetings attended by Anne Damerell)
  • Chronic Pain Policy Coalition (executive meetings attended by Heather Wallace; partner meetings attended by Chris Hughes, Anne Damerell and Sue Clayton)
  • NHS Quality Improvement Scotland Chronic Pain Steering Group (meetings attended by Fiona Townsley)
  • NHS Quality Improvement Scotland Chronic Pain Managed Clinical Networks Steering Group (meetings attended by Marion Beatson)
  • Fife Integrated Pain Service NHS steering group, Heather Wallace and SengaTemple attended meetings.
  • Lothian Health Board Chronic Pain Review Group, meetings attended by Heather Wallace.
  • NICE, Heather Wallace attended Neuropathic Pain Guidelines Development Group meetings as member of that Guidelines Development Group;

 

EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: WRITTEN CONSULTATIONS

  • Scottish Medicines Consortium, we made patient submissions on Tapentadol and Qutenza
  • We wrote a letter to NHS QIS in support of the proposal to develop SIGN clinical guidelines for chronic pain. This is going ahead in 2011.
  • We gave consultancy advice to editor of chronic pain sections of NHS Choices website.

AND

Chair of Pain Concern, Heather Wallace was invited to Women of the Year Lunch, 11 October.