Primary Care Pain Support Service
Empowering Patients. Easing GP Workload. Enhancing Outcomes.
Chronic Pain Doesn’t Have to Mean Constant GP Visits
We support Primary Care Networks with integrated pain services designed to help patients manage persistent musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions and reduce reliance on medications, repeat GP appointments, and secondary care.
The Pain Challenge
The Growing Impact of Persistent Pain in Primary Care
Chronic pain affects up to 50% of the UK population. Among these, MSK-related pain accounts for 30% of GP caseloads. Yet current NHS models often fall short in delivering lasting results. Long waits, medication dependence, and limited appointment time make managing these patients a challenge.
- 7–10 GP visits/year per chronic pain patient
- Increasing opioid/gabapentinoid prescriptions
- Mental health and lifestyle-related complications
- Long waiting times for specialist pain services
A Primary Care-Driven Solution
Our Modular Pain Service: Early, Local, and Patient-Centered
Developed by MSK experts, our service offers early intervention and personalised support, bridging the gap between general practice and secondary care.
✔ Delivered by specialist MSK physiotherapists and health & wellbeing coaches
✔ Designed to integrate with PCNs, ARRS-funded staff, and community services
✔ Structured pain pathway with measurable patient outcomes
✔ Direct and internal referral routes available
Tailored for Every PCN or Organisation
We assign dedicated teams to each PCN, ensuring sensitivity to local socioeconomic factors, culture, and environment. This personalised support ensures maximum relevance and engagement from patients and partners alike.
Seamless Integration
A Fully Integrated, ARRS-Backed Service
We work hand-in-hand with PCN-funded roles and existing services to streamline care. While distinct from social prescribing, our service complements it, delivering practical and psychological support for long-term pain management.
✔ Health and Wellbeing Coaches
✔ First Contact Physiotherapists (FCPs)
✔ Clinical Pharmacists
✔ Mental Health Practitioners
✔ Social Prescribers
Long-Term Pain Management Strategy
Changing Behaviours, Not Just Treating Symptoms
We take a behaviourally-informed approach, helping patients address ingrained habits, beliefs, and social factors that worsen persistent pain. Our health coaches provide:
• Motivational coaching and behaviour change
• Goal setting aligned with daily function
• Confidence-building to reduce fear avoidance
• Education around self-management techniques
Impact & Results
82.5%
Patients did not visit their GP during the pathway
49%
Increase in confidence managing without medication
39%
Average increase in PSEQ score (clinically significant)
Source: Initial findings from ongoing long-term outcomes audit in 4Doncaster PCN January 2024 – January 2025
87.8%
Maintained PSEQ improvements 4 months post-programme
52%
Did not return to the GP about their pain after discharge
Proven Cost Savings
ARRS-Funded Staff. Significant Financial Impact.
One Health & Wellbeing Coach:
• Sees approx. 300 patients/year
• ARRS-funded at £42,347/year
Cost Comparison:
• Average GP cost: £49/appointment
• 12 visits/year × 300 patients = £176,000
• Our service cost: £42,347 → £133,000+ in savings/year
“Beyond appointment savings, we reduce prescribing needs and improve population health—generating measurable long-term gains.”
Aligned with National Guidance
Compliant with NICE & NHS Long-Term Plan
✔ NICE 2021-aligned
✔ Health coaching recognised for LTCs
✔ Supports PCN deprescribing targets
✔ Demonstrates ICB-aligned outcomes
Outcomes We Track
We Don’t Just Treat Pain—We Track Progress
We use robust and validated measures to demonstrate the clinical and financial impact of our work.
• 📝 Patient-Specific Functional Scale (PSFS)
• 📈 Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ)
• 💊 Medication reviews
• 🗣️ Patient interviews
• 🧾 GP attendance monitoring
✔ Patient-Specific Functional Scale (PSFS) – Evaluates functional improvement based on patient-defined activities.
✔ Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ) – Measures confidence in managing pain independently.
✔ Medication Review & Analysis – Assesses changes in medication use and deprescribing progress.
✔ Patient Interviews & Feedback – Gathers qualitative insights into patient experiences and satisfaction.
✔ GP Surgery Attendance Monitoring – Tracks reductions in GP visits to measure service impact.
By collecting reliable, data-driven outcomes, we support primary care networks (PCNs) in demonstrating the effectiveness of our pain management service. Many of our partner organizations leverage this data to build business cases for presentation to Integrated Care Boards (ICBs)—helping secure funding to improve and sustain patient care.
Partner with Us
Ready to Improve Patient Outcomes & Reduce Practice Workload?
Whether you’re a GP, PCN manager, or commissioner, our team is ready to help you roll out a data-driven, ARRS-backed solution that transforms persistent pain care.