The service works with people who have pain that has persisted beyond the expected healing times or occurs in the absence of treatable pathology and impacts on their lives. The service aims to help people to live a life of quality alongside persisting pain.

  The service provides the following types of care:

• Group Introductory Session- typically the initial appointment
• MDT Assessment- following the group session, patients can opt into an MDT assessment supported by a psychologist and a physio. Pharmacy and Nurse Specialists can also support if required.
• Biomedical clinic- run by Pain Consultants with the support of physios and psychologist

The full service pathway can be found in the downloads section.

The service runs a group session for Turkish speaking patients who struggle to communicate in English.

Referrals are screened and patients can bypass the initial group introuctory session if this is assessed to be clinically appropriate.

Please include all relevant investigation reports when making a referral to support the care for your patient.

Link to the Homerton Service webpage: https://www.homerton.nhs.uk/locomotor-pain-service

Eligibility criteria

Inclusions

• Persistent pain impacting on daily life/mood
• Appropriately investigated relating to persistent pain
• Previous physiotherapy input with minimum impact or limited engagement
• Patients on controlled drugs with ongoing poorly managed pain
• Patient open to exploring self-management approach
• Pregnancy with persistent pain background needing urgent medication review

Exclusions

• Red flags
• Ongoing medical investigations indicated regarding pain (especially non-msk)
• Currently active suicidal intent
• No significant impact of pain on function/patients who understand persistent pain and are coping well
• Ongoing assessment/treatment in another service for same condition (e.g. awaiting orthopaedic/neurosurgical review; under another pain service)
• Never had physiotherapy before - will be redirected to Locomotor Physiotherapy
• No goals/ not open to exploring self-management

See downloads for full service eligibility criteria.

How to refer

The following clinicians can refer to this service: GPs