Following some conversations with clinicians, and the experience of some opioid reductions, the North Cumbria Team recognised that there was a need to support clinicians to understand how to think differently about chronic pain management in their localities.
Using local knowledge, information from clinicians and social prescribing teams and internet searches the team collated primary care, secondary care and third sectors services alongside local support groups to add to the mind maps.
The mind maps have helped to drive different conversations with patients and challenged thinking amongst clinicians.
They helped the team start conversations with the third sector and this in turn has supported the setup of a pain peer support group in Carlisle and a successful event bringing people together from various organisations, to discuss how teams can work together to support patients with pain.
The four mind maps have been shared across the NENC geography and some locations have adopted the idea for use in their areas.
