Whole-of-Community Approach Boosts Pain Services in Adelaide 

In Adelaide, a whole-of-community effort has filled a gap in pain services, highlighting the kind of shift required to better manage chronic conditions.

A collaboration between the Federal Government’s Adelaide Primary Health Network (PHN), the state’s Northern Adelaide Local Health Network and a general practice located in the Elizabeth GP-Plus, along with input from the Royal Adelaide Hospital, the Living Well with Persistent Pain Program is bringing help to the people who need it most.

With persistent pain identified as a priority area by Adelaide PHN, people in the northern suburbs of Adelaide were hit particularly hard. Socially disadvantaged, the region is far from the city’s two major tertiary pain units and has very few allied health professionals with training in chronic pain management, although most locals could not even afford to see them.

Beginning in 2015 and based on the Gold Coast’s Turning Pain into Gain program (developed by Consultant Pharmacist Joyce McSwan), the free community-based pain education program operates from a GP-plus clinic in Elizabeth and is funded by the Adelaide PHN.

It offers 12-month access to a GP with a special interest in pain, along with ongoing support from the clinic’s physiotherapist and psychologist, both trained in chronic pain management. A Care Coordinator works three days per week, undertaking patient assessments and facilitating access to the GP, allied health and the education program.

The education program teaches the principles of self-management and help patients to manage their pain beyond the program.

Jane Goode from the Adelaide PHN, says results suggest the program is having the desired effect in people’s lives, with participants reporting greater ability to live life despite the pain by using strategies such as mindfulness, meditation and pacing activities.

Adelaide PHN is now working with the general practice to develop capacity in the region, and there are plans to establish a similar program in the southern suburbs of Adelaide, which is demographically similar to the northern suburbs.

It is also working with the Women’s and Children’s Health Network to identify the community supports required for a tertiary paediatric pain clinic. This work is in association with development of the Statewide Chronic Pain Model of Care for South Australia.

“The Living Well with Persistent Pain Program has filled an important gap in pain services in the northern suburbs of Adelaide and we commend the collaborative approach taken by Adelaide PHN,” said Painaustralia CEO Lesley Brydon.

For more information about the program please contact the program Care Coordinator: painprogramnorth@adelaidephn.com.au