Welcome to the Faculty of Pain Medicine of the Royal College of Anaesthetists

The Faculty of Pain Medicine is the professional body responsible for the training, assessment, practice and continuing professional development of specialist medical practitioners in the management of pain in the UK. We support a multi-disciplinary approach to pain management informed by evidence-based practice and research.

Find out how you can join the Faculty

Evolving challenges in delivering a pain service during the COVID-19 pandemic

We've developed a live resource which captures key challenges, relevant guidance and information to support local decision-making for pain services during COVID-19.

Find support in managing the challenges of COVID-19

Latest news

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FPM Board Elections 2020
30 June 2020
Notice is hereby given that an election for three vacancies on the Board of the Faculty of Pain Medicine will be held on 28 September 2020.
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Racism, discrimination and diversity within healthcare
19 June 2020
Joint statement by the FICM Dean, RCoA President and FPM Dean.
The Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine, Royal College of Anaesthetists and Faculty of Pain Medicine condemn racism and discrimination in any shape or form.
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COVID-19: Guidance on Triage & Consultation
18 June 2020
The FPM has published guidance for pain practice post COVID-19 in relation to triage and consultations. This guidance outlines the specific considerations to optimise specialist pain consultations post COVID-19.

Essential Pain Management UK

EPM provides a simple structure to teach the complex subject of pain.

  • Recognise
  • Assess
  • Treat

Since 2014, we have been using the EPM structure in the UK as a mechanism for training medical students, post-graduate doctors and a variety of allied healthcare professionals in pain management.

Find out more about EPM UK

Information for patients and carers

Pain clinic reception

For patients and relatives

Information for patients and relatives about medications, interventions and pain medicine
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Patient information leaflets

Information leaflets for patients on medications, interventions and driving
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FPM 10 Patient Stories
Patient testimonials highlighting the positive work that pain specialists undertake, collected during the Faculty's 10th anniversary in 2017

The 13th Annual Meeting will take place on Friday 27 November 2020

Booking will open in the summer

Upcoming Events

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FPM Interdisciplinary collaboration for chronic pain
The Royal College of Anaesthetists has taken the decision to cancel all events and courses making up our education programme in March, April and May. We have taken this decision due to the on-going global COVID-19 situation in order to reduce the risk to our members and the public.

As a Medical Royal College we have a responsibility to play our part in containing the spread of the virus whilst ensuring the safety of our delegates. Anaesthetists and intensive care practitioners are being called upon to care for patients with COVID-19 and therefore it is in the best interest of the NHS, our members and the wider public to cancel our programme.

Opioids Aware

Opioids Aware is an internationally renowned online resource for patients and healthcare professionals to support prescribing of opioid medicines for pain. This resource was developed in collaboration with Public Health England.

Learn more about opioids

Faculty Publications

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Guidelines and publications
Access various guidelines and publications published and endorsed by the Faculty, including clinical guidelines and statements
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Core Standards
Core Standards for Pain Management Services (CSPMS) is a collaborative multidisciplinary publication providing a robust reference source for the planning and delivery of Pain Management Services in the United Kingdom
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Clinical guidelines
Access the Faculty's clinical guidelines and publications, including competencies, procedures, outcome measures and safety checklists

Pain touches everyone.

It is a universal human experience and one of the most common reasons to seek medical advice.

e-PAIN is an interactive, multidisciplinary programme designed to help people learn and better understand pain.

Learn more about e-PAIN