Pain Service Referral

The pain clinic is held at the Buchanan Centre, Coatbridge.

The staff do not always have access to all hospital and electronic records and hence completion of the form will assist in patient management.

Please attach any relevant hospital clinic and investigation letters/reports from Docman

Please state if a patient requires ambulance transport. As there are no facilities for this at Coatbridge, ambulance patients will be seen at WGH.

ServicesLanarkshire Chronic Pain Service provides out-patient multi-disciplinary assessment and treatment for adults with chronic pain.
LCPS Aims & Objectives
The team consists of two consultants in pain medicine, two specialist nurses, one specialist physiotherapist and one clinical psychologist.

The Pain Management Programme is based at the Douglas Street Health Centre in Hamilton
Rehabilitative & psychological approach to pain self-management

The Pain Clinic, based at the Buchanan Centre (Coatbridge) and Wishaw General Hospital, has a more medical approach:
TENS, medication, acupuncture,
Diagnostic and medication advice and review
Occasionally other procedures will be arranged at the day surgery unit at Wishaw General Hospital
Who to referPatients over 16:

With pain for longer than 6/12
With a chronic painful condition

or

Whose pain is causing significant distress
Who have been fully investigated,
For whom no further investigation or treatment is planned,
Whose lifestyle is significantly disrupted,
Who find standard analgesia is ineffective and
Who accept, during discussion, that a cure may not be possible.

See Pain management algorithm
Who not to referPatients under 16 (without initial discussion with Yorkhill (Glasgow) paediatric chronic pain clinic
Patients who would not tolerate the journey reasonably well
Patients with back pain should initially be assessed through MSK or back pain service pathways

Patients with:

Red Flags
Pain for less than 6/12
Awaiting investigations or specialist opinion, or invasive treatment
Alcohol / drugs dependency
Somatisation disorder

Caution in relation to the following:-
Active mental health problems where initial referral to mental health service or medication may be more appropriate:

Depression: major
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: major
Personality disorder: high level or primary
Somatisation Disorder
Bereavement: significant unresolved issues
Abuse: unresolved issues
Obsessive compulsive disorder: major
Eating disorder: major
Psychosis: active psychosis or delusions

See Pain management algorithm
ResourcesThe British Pain Society
The British Association Scotland
Pain Pathway Guidance for GPs
Pain Management manual
Patient information leaflets (PILs) See Patient support groups

Orthopaedic Back Pain

This referral will be vetted by a Specialist Physiotherapist

Back pain referrals will be vetted by a Lead Extended Scope Practitioner. If there are any RED FLAGS, the referral will be fast tracked to a orthopaedic consultant.

  • Only 1% of Low back Pain requires further investigation
  • Lumbar spine X-ray is inappropriate in mechanical low back pain and will not be routinely carried out

Should you require further information, please contact Janie Thomson, Lead Extended Scope Practitioner, Musculoskeletal Project, 01355 585447.

CCI Guidelines

The CCI Referral Guidelines can be found at Back Pain Referral Pathways