This project goes beyond the normal service from a primary care pain management service as it aims to proactively review high dose opioid patients. It uses collaborative working with primary care colleagues mainly PCN pharmacist and pharmacy technicians. It was put in place to provide more integrated care for the patient, focusing on opioids education and harm prevention before prescribing.
The Pain team takes any ad hoc queries and questions from the PCN pharmacy team in relation to opioid tapering on a specific patient basis either by task through the clinical system or by advice and guidance requests.
Complex patients can be referred to a specialist pain service MDT approach for local deprescribing clinics. These patients can include those addicted to prescribed pain medication as the team works closely with local addiction services.
