139: Living With Persistent Pain in Wales 2023

Airing Pain

This edition of Airing Pain was recorded at the Living Well with Persistent Pain in Wales conference during Pain Awareness Month in September 2023. The topic of the conference was the launch of the revised Persistent Pain guidance first published in 2019.
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how we live and access services. How are healthcare professionals who treat patients with persistent pain capitalising on this improved digital literacy by using a digital-first approach to improve the patient experience at their clinics? With the aim of this year's conference being to see the person and not the symptoms, how can the patient's voice be heard and kept central to ensure this is done? And finally, how can the Third Sector and the NHS work more cohesively to work towards this goal? Listen or read the transcript to find out more.
Contributors
Bethany Davies Health care support worker, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
Gethin Harries, Physiotherapist, Powys Health Board (Powys Living Well Service).
Eluned Morgan MS, Health Minister
Owen Hughes National Clinical Lead for Persistent Pain in Wales
Stephen Allan, Regional Director New Citizen’s Voice Body for Wales
Dr Sue Jeffs, National Clinical Lead for Persistent Pain Patient organisation representatives
Mary Cowern Head of Nation for Cymru Versus Arthritis
Heather Wallace, Pain Concern
Representatives of other organisations present at the event, including Health Education for Improvement Wales, Real City Strategy North Wales, Cardiff and Vales University Health Board and Case UK Ltd.
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Timestamps
0:35 Eluned Morgan MS welcomes delegates to the launch of the revised Living With Persistent Pain in Wales guidelines.
3:04 Owen Hughes explains the updates to the guidelines.
6:04 Eluned Morgan MS on the feedback received regarding the guidence and how it can continue to evolve.
6:35 Representatives from Real City Strategy North Wales and Powys Living Well Service discuss how those living with pain can be supported.
12:48 Eluned Morgan MS and a representative from Cardiff and Vales University Health Board talk about self-management and peer support groups.
23:59 Mary Cowern, Neil Fowler and Bethany Davies on how the guidelines will impact their organisations.
37:39 Eluned Morgan MS on the need to reduce ineffective treatments.
38:35 Information on upskilling for healthcare professionals from Catrin from Health Education and Improvement Wales.
40:38 The Patient Voice – Stephen Allan, Eluned Morgan MS and Dr Sue Jeffs on the importance of patients informing on the services available.
48:11 Heather Wallace reflects on the event and a final request about person-centred care from Eluned Morgan MS.
Additional Resources

• Living with Persistent Pain in Wale Guidance
• eppcymru.org
• All Wales Analgesic Stewardship Guidance
• CaseUK
• Versus Arthritis
• Airing Pain 109 Fibromyalgia
• Airing Pain 121: Living with Persistent Pain in Wales
• Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015