Launch of new service to help patients with chronic widespread pain
A new service offering telephone-delivered talking therapy has launched to support Salford residents who have chronic widespread pain (CWP) and fibromyalgia. This 12 month project, supported by NHS Salford Clinical Commissioning Group’s research and innovation fund, aims to improve patient care for people in Salford who experience CWP.
We aim to harness the opportunity for service innovation by evaluating the implementation of a flexible pain pathway offering stepped care (using both high and low intensity interventions), including evidence-based, telephone-delivered talking therapy. This will be delivered by specially trained Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (PWPs) from the Six Degrees Improved Access to Psychological Therapy (IAPT) service. It will take account of patient preferences and ensure that patients receive the most appropriate option(s) for treatment.
CWP is a major public health problem as it affects between 11 and 13% of the population. It is largely referred to as pain that persists for more than three months. CWP is associated with lost work productivity, mental ill health, reduced quality of life and high healthcare costs.
How can you refer to the service?
Referrals of Salford residents are being accepted from:
- GPs
- Pain and fibromyalgia clinics at Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust
- Musculoskeletal (MSK) physiotherapy services
- IAPT services.
Referral forms should be marked: CWP/fibromyalgia and sent via nhs.net email to sixdegrees@nhs.net.
More information
For more information please see the project information page
Date Published: 06/06/2016