What is the challenge your project is going to address and how does it connect to the theme of 'How can we improve across system boundaries?​

The Health Foundation’s ‘Health in 2040’ revealed chronic pain to the leading UK threat to long term health and the economy.

There is a 9.5 million national deficit in appointments for people living with chronic pain. People are waiting up to 18 months for support leading to greater impact.

We created an online pain management programme during COVID. It has allowed our patients rapid access to evidence based care using guided and self-guided approaches.

We have received excellent feedback for the content and benefits of the ePMP.

Your Pain Matters will develop the ePMP into a professional package which can be adapted to the needs of multiple care providers. We have built a team of stakeholders including those with lived experience, primary care, social prescribing, community AHPs and secondary care.

We will enable patients throughout our community to access the care they need quickly and without barriers.

What does your project aim to achieve?

Our objectives:

1. Create a professional, adaptable, modular ePMP product
2. Patients living with chronic pain will able to access support within 4 weeks
3. Ensure care providers across Stockport can link patients into Your Pain Matters
4. To spread the ePMP availability into the wider NHS

Early access into up to date expert pain management support markedly reduces the health burden for the individual and the system. Early intervention reduces the psychological and physical impact of living with chronic pain. Patients are also less likely to have days off work and less likely to access already strained health services.

Chronic pain disproportionally effects people of low socio-economic status and from ethnic minorities. Dr Hood, co-lead and EDI lead, recognised the power of creating a digital first strategy  to break down barriers.

Advantages include:

• • The use of translation/CC software to improve language access
  • High availability of mobile phones in these populations

How will the project be delivered?

Divided into 3 phases:

Phase 1 – product development (0-6 months)

• co-design of additional ePMP content script/design
  • stakeholders in place including comms team and lived experience
  • utilises EDCB co-ordinator from previous Q exchange
• filming and editing of latest content
  • IT and comms support already in place
  • funding already secured for recording equipment
• website and content put into modular format
  • wide stakeholders in place
  • web architect support
• ensure ease of access with testing phase
  • EDI trained lead
  • Transformation Team support already secured.
  • Supported by EBCD lead

Phase 2 – Local rollout and feedback (6-18 months)

• Pilot test with social prescribing team (part of project team)
• Move to availability in primary care (LMC engaged)
• Feedback built into project through digital platform

Phase 3 – NHSe spread (18+ months)

• Initial development within GM
  • supported by executive team (already engaged in ePMP development)
• Investigate potential for wider spread in NHSe

How is your project going to share learning?

Learning can be shared at multiple levels.

Locally

• video creation/editing skills/hardware can be shared across the trust to allow other departments to undertake similar projects.
• Transformation team progress EBCD and virtual product skills
• Outcomes presented at trust SIG
• Active trust social media to spread learning and achievements

Regionally

• Data and processes presented to regional pain groups including medical and psychology

Nationally

• Transformation process (recipe book) recorded and available for other health sectors to access and utilise

Q

• reported through exchange programme
• active continued membership of SIGs