Persistent Pain Service

Persistent pain is complex, therefore our persistent pain service consists of a team of professionals with different backgrounds. These professionals are used to dealing with persistent pain problems.

In Taranaki, the core team usually includes an anaesthetist/pain specialist, psychologist, physiotherapist and a persistent pain educator.

Links for everyone:

Chronic Pain
Pain Screening Questionnaire (OMPSQ) SF (PDF 50KB)
Retrain Pain Foundation
Understanding Persistent Pain Booklet (PDF 1.65MB)
Pain Assessment tool for non-verbal adults: 'Where does it hurt' (PDF 109 KB)

YouTube videos
Reducing opioids in Persistent Pain (YouTube)
Persistent pain and self management (YouTube)
Understanding Pain in less than 5 minutes, and what to do about it! (YouTube)

Triple Assessment

The multidisciplinary ‘Triple Assessment’ includes three separate appointments, each taking 60 minutes over the course of a morning. The aim of the assessment is to ensure that the pain problem is addressed and options are provided for the management of the pain. This may include an explanation, ways of self management plus treatments.

Persistent pain can often only be helped by small changes in many areas. Some of these may involve lifestyle changes and reading materials are often included.

For more information please refer to the Triple Assessment brochure.

PEP - Pain Education Programme

Pep (Pain Education Programme) is a shorter, more educationally based pain management programme. It runs in addition to our standard 10 week pain management programme PUEA.

Like PUEA, PEP is designed for adults with persistent pain, and uses a primarily cognitive behavioural approach to the management of pain. However, it is best suited to people who are not severely disabled or distressed by their pain. Participants may be in employment.

The programme runs on Tuesdays from 12pm - 2pm over a five week period. Sessions will be held at Base Hospital, New Plymouth. Up to 20 participants are welcome to attend the whole programme, or self selected sessions.

The programme will be led by the TDHB Persistent Pain Team which includes, Doctors, a Physiotherapist, a Clinical Psychologist and a Pain Educator.

The sessions include topics such as:

• Understanding Pain
• Pacing
• Sleeping
• Medications
• Flare Ups
• Thoughts and Feelings

Handouts and worksheets will be provided.

Participants can also self refer and in addition, staff wishing to update their knowledge and skills in this area are welcome to attend. For more details about this course, and when it is next running, contact our Pain Educator on the details below.

For more information please refer to the Pain Education Programme brochure.

Find us:

The appointment with the pain specialist / anaesthetist / pschologist and physiotherapist for the Triple Assessment is held at the main outpatients department at Taranaki Base Hospital.

The persistent pain educator is located in the Physiotherapy Department, on Level Two of Taranaki Base Hospital.

Click here to vist the Maps page

Contact us:

Persistent Pain Service
Persistent Pain Educator
Phone 06 753 7742 ext 7532
Email lara.blundell@tdhb.org.nz

Last updated: Monday, November 25, 2019