Community Pain Management Service

This service is for people who experience any kind of persistent pain and who are registered with a Southport and Formby GP. Usually people are referred if they struggling to manage their pain in some way and this is affecting their quality of life.

You can access the service via a referral from your consultant, GP or the Musculoskeletal Service (also known as Joint Health) based at Southport and Ormskirk hospital.

If you feel you need reasonable adjustments to be made which would make your appointment more comfortable, please do contact the service. Below are some things that may be useful to think about before attending your appointment.  You might want to jot these down to remind you.

We understand that a lot of people will say that they want to be in less pain or more in control of their pain. We will explore what helps you already and agree a personal and meaningful action plan. Everyone is different and we will talk through options with you that might be useful to your situation.

Your first appointment

Your appointment will usually take place at the Ainsdale Centre for Health and Wellbeing on Monday to Friday between 9am and 4pm unless otherwise specified.

Your appointment will usually be with one of our specialist physiotherapists and lasts approx 40 minutes. Please bring along a list of your medications if possible.  You may be asked to get undressed to be assessed properly.

Sometimes we have colleagues in training who observe us at work.  You may opt out of this if you wish.

You can bring someone to accompany you if this makes you more comfortable.  If you know of any other reasonable way for us to make your appointment more comfortable, please let us know by contacting us on 01704 387235.

Is what I say confidential?

Unless we feel your or other's safety is at risk, what you say is confidential.  However, if you were intending to harm yourself or someone else, we would have to disclose this. We aim to discuss such issues with you before speaking to a third party to help keep you and others safe.

Typically we will copy your appointment summary letter to your referrer so they know that we have met. However, you can discuss any concerns about this with the member of our team that you see.

Missed appointments

We understand that people sometimes need to rearrange appointments due to illness or other issues.We ask that you let us know in advance to help us run the service efficiently.

If you miss two or more appointments without letting us know in advance, you will be discharged from the service.

Our medical secretary may be able to support you to arrange patient transportation.

Watch our video about our pain management programmes

• View information about our six week pain management programme
• View information about our nine week pain management programme

We offer a range of appointment types here at the Pain Service. If a video appointment has been arranged for you, please use the guide below to log on to the Attend Anywhere platform.

Video calling is convenient and easy to use.

Instead of travelling to your appointment, you will enter this online waiting area. 

The service will see that you have arrived and one of our team will join your call when ready.

There is no need to create an account. These video calls are secure and your privacy is protected.

What do I need to make a video call?

• A device which can make a video call, such as a smartphone, tablet or computer with a webcam and speakers
• A reliable internet connection (Wi-Fi, ethernet (wired) or mobile data). If you can watch a video online, you will be able to make a video call
• A private, well lit area for your consultation, where you will not be disturbed.
• The latest version of your internet browser (Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Microsoft Edge etc.)

Watch our video about our patient support group - Pain Clinic Plus

Our Pain Clinic Plus (PCP) is a peer support group run by expert patient volunteers who live with persistent pain, for people with persistent pain. They are a vital part of the support we offer and work closely with the team.

Pain Clinic Plus host a meeting session every Friday morning at Ainsdale. Due to room size, we need to make sure that we have enough space for everyone attending and so numbers may be restricted for this.

For further information  contact our Expert Patient and Pain Clinic Plus lead, Kev Howard, for more information on Kevin.Howard@merseycare.nhs.uk or you can call the Pain Service on 01704 387235.

The Pain Clinic Plus website is currently down for maintenance but you can visit their Facebook page for more information.

​​​​​​Equipment and adaptations

• AskSARA - self help guide on products and equipment for older and disabled people - takes you through a questionnaire relating to issues you are having with a task and then suggests possible aids
• Living Made Easy - information from the Disabled Living Foundation
• Sefton Council Minor Adaptations Service  - information from Sefton Council for people requiring equipment or minor adaptations to their home

General resources

• Chronic Pain Self Help Guide from NHS Scotland - a cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) approach to managing persistent pain
• Discoveries made which have changed our understanding of pain video
• Flippin Pain - useful resources, including the science behind pain and self management approaches
• Information about pain and fibromyalgia
• Live Well with Pain - lots of resources, videos and fact sheets to help you understand your pain and enjoy life
• Pain Concern - podcasts, videos, information and a forum to share knowledge and experiences of living with pain
• Pain Management Guidebook
• Retrain Pain - the science behind pain and ways to cope in short one minute videos.
• Tame the Beast - a five minute video explaining the current scientific understanding of persistent pain
• The Pain Toolkit - developed by Pete Moore who has lived experience of persistent pain. Available in multiple languages
• Understanding Pain in less than 5 minutes and what to do about it - a short video focusing on back pain but relevant to many pain conditions
• Understanding Persistent Pain – talks more about pain mechanisms and how they apply to us day to day

Mindfulness

• Mindfulness for pain - the science behind mindfulness for managing pain, personal experiences and free mindfulness exercises
• Mindful living information handout
• Palouse Mindfulness - free online eight week mindfulness based stress reduction course

Relaxation

• Mind Guide to relaxation
• Relaxation apps 

Work, study and volunteering

• Access to Work factsheet
• Access to Work Mental Health Support Scheme information
• Disabled Students Allowance
• Working, studying and volunteering information for people living with pain