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A Pharmacist led chronic pain clinic was set up taking referrals from three GP practices in a Health centre setting, linking in with Advanced Practice Physiotherapist, Links Worker and Yoga Pain Specialist.
Planned outcomes:
• Improved pain management for patients through holistic review, promotion of self-management of pain and pain education
• Optimisation of medication, de-prescribing and tackling dependence on prescription analgesics
• Reduced numbers of pain related GP consultations
• Reduced referrals to pain clinics through better support and management in the community setting
The clinic is still ongoing but outcomes so far are:
• All of the patients who have been discharged from the clinic so far have found an improvement in both their pain levels and the impact pain is having on their quality of life as a result of attending the Pharmacist led pain clinic. Patients reported an average drop in pain severity score of 2.8 (out of 10) and an average decrease in interference score of 2.7 (out of 10).
• At time of initial report 38 patients were evaluated and there were 25 drugs stopped and 10 dose reductions in a five month period. The most common drugs stopped were opioids.
• There were 82 recommendations and advice/referrals for self -management approaches compared to 45 medications started or increased which shows that there was bigger focus on non- pharmacological approaches. This not only leads to a reduction in prescribing costs but improves patient safety and risk of addiction and overdose.
• The number of appointments with GP for pain in 6 months prior to the clinic was compared with number of GP appointments whilst attending clinic and there was a 36% reduction. The projected savings in GP appointments over a year is between £22,000 and £33,000. The cost of running the clinic is £12,000 per annum.
