Pain Management Task Force minutes: June 2024

Attendees and apologies

• Nicci Motiang, Deputy Chair - Clinical Priorities Unit Head, Scottish Government, SG
• Stuart Stephen, National Implementation Lead for Pain Management, SG
• Lyn Watson,  Pain Nurse Network Lead
• Moira Nelson, Team Leader, SG
• Sharon Robertson, Policy Manager, SG
• Lois Lobban, Senior Policy Manager, Rehabilitation policy, SG
• Helen Moores-Poole,  AHP Professions Officer, SG
• Aline Williams, Service Managers Network Lead
• Martin Dunbar, Chair of Third Sector Network
• Debs Steven, Lead Pharmacist Pain Pharmacy Network
• John Anderson, Primary Care Lead, PHS
• Will Wood, Clinical Priorities Unit Head, Scottish Government, SG
• Lars Williams, Medics Network Lead
• Tracy Robertson, AHP Network Lead and co-chair of SLGWA
• Stephen Martin, Realistic Medicine Policy, SG
• David Craig, Pain Psychology Network Lead
• Lived experience volunteers

Apologies

• Lynn Nicol, Chair
• Rory Mackenzie
• Gayle McCann

Items and actions

Welcome and apologies

Apologies noted above. The new lived experience representative was introduced and provided brief details of his background.

Approval of minutes and matters arising

The previous minutes were approved and will be published on the Scottish Government website.

Implementation progress

SLWGA continues to focus on the provision of information with recent updates to the NHS inform page. SLWGA is due to meet in August where the views on the future of the group will be sought. 

Education group advised the skilled module is due to be evaluated during July and August with a planned launch in August or September. 

SLWGB including workforce co-chairs have met to discuss membership. A survey of what is part of the chronic pain core work has received 46 responses, initial results are being reviewed. It is anticipated that the first meeting will be held August. To consider what influence this group will have with the Boards, for example how to get post released. There was an offer to link this group in with AHP Directors and the work that has been done on AHP workforce. 

Effective orescribing team have started work on action 12. A lived experience representative has been nominated from the third sector network. The effective prescribing SLWG will continue to work closely with Scottish intercollegiate guidelines network (SIGN).

Data group. PHS starting trial phase and have emailed analysts to submit both submission forms to dual run for next quarter. 

Implementation plan risk register

An updated risk register was sent with the agenda. The format has been updated to make it easier to understand and as requested have considered and incorporated residual risk. Where the residual risk remains high or very high even after mitigation these will be noted on the new tab and discussed at the task force. 

The residual risks discussed were: 
SIGN guidelines. Further discussion to be held about finance and timeline for development.  

Credentialling. Further discussions to be held to look at this work with NES – it may be that for modules 3 and 4 it may be more appropriate to look at accreditation.

Chronic pain knowledge hub
The latest pages were shown to the task force to show the progress made on populating the turas website. 

NHS Scotland event – chronic pain poster
Poster from the education group was displayed at this week’s NHS Scotland event and shared with the task force for information.

Research update

Paper was discussed about shared research priorities. Further work required on James Lind alliance priority setting partnerships (PSP) and how the different roles within a PSP could be filled.

Finance and commissioning

Budget has been reduced this year, but continued commitments are waiting times data,  
SNPMP, CfSD and public awareness. 
Task Force were asked to note that this year SG are funding half of the SNPMP as we move to the standard funding model where the funding comes from the boards. 

Communications 

Subscriber numbers remain steady, latest newsletter in draft – any articles please submit to chronicpain@gov.scot. Scottish Government pages are up to date including access to task force minutes. 

Any other competent business 

Ask to consider how we raise patient confidence with the work ongoing – especially action 13 and interventions. Useful to quantify the variations across Scotland – who is benefitting and how to best deliver interventions.

Date of next meeting

Wednesday 14 August 2024 at 10.30 am via MS Teams.