Scottish base for state-of-the-art chronic pain centre

A national service to help people with chronic pain is to be based in Glasgow, following a recent announcement by the Scottish government
A dedicated team will provide residential courses for patients and carers on how to cope with the effects of chronic pain, and how to manage their condition.
Chronic pain affects about 18% of the population and is often attached to other conditions, such as arthritis, cancer and back pain, which means it is often left to those specialist departments rather than having a service dedicated to the pain itself.
Many people in Scotland currently have to travel almost 400 miles to Bath for the level of specialised care that will be offered at the new national centre for excellence. The first patients will be seen by the new service in January 2015 and it is due to run at full capacity in 2016.
“Chronic pain can be distressing and difficult to deal with, but we know that if the condition is managed well, it can make a huge difference,” says Public Health Minister Michael Matheson. “That’s why this new national service, based at a single location, will have a truly positive impact on people’s lives.
“The establishment of this new national service in Scotland is a major milestone for people who suffer from chronic pain. We’re determined that patients will have access to the very best services without having to take the long journey to the south of England.”