Survey: Re-opening of Chronic Pain Services during COVID-19

Published: 20/04/2021

Conclusions

Following on from initial survey, there were signs of significant re-opening across the United Kingdom and as indicated in the summary of key findings.  There was significant evidence of alternative practices most specifically remote telephone and video consultations and uses of triage as a stepping stone to a face to face appointment.  The survey has captured thematically many of the likely changes in pain practice across the United Kingdom since the first survey and previously mainly face to face pre-covid practice. Many units are still depleted in terms of staff or level of reopening of pain procedures.  Rarely have social distanced face to face pain management programmes been undertaken. Clinical management with Covid-19 is clearly a rapidly evolving situation but the individual and collective experiences of members in this survey will help inform future care.