Weston’s pilot programme puts chronic pain patients first

A mother who has lived with chronic back pain for a decade has described a new pain management group in Weston-super-Mare, run by University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW), as “invaluable”.

Nicola Kilcoyne, 52, has early onset arthritis and spinal degeneration, conditions which makes caring for her 24-year-old son more difficult. As a full-time carer, Nicola has also found it hard to access support outside her local area.

Initially receiving physiotherapy at Weston General Hospital and later referred to Southmead Hospital’s pain management pathway, Nicola’s treatment journey was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. After years of living with daily pain, Nicola was referred to a newly launched Pain Management Group launched in Weston-super-Mare, as various treatments had failed to improve her condition.

Based at the For All Healthy Living Centre, the 8-week pilot programme, delivered by a multidisciplinary team, aims to equip participants with skills to live well alongside persistent pain. It means patients no longer have to travel 20 miles to Bristol to access this support.

Nicola said:

“As someone who lives in Weston, accessing support in Bristol was always really difficult and nearly impossible because I need to stay close to home to care for my son. The Weston programme has been life-changing! It’s easily accessible, which is so important for me as a walking stick user, and the tools and tips we learnt have made a huge difference.

“Living with chronic pain can be very lonely, and I suffer from poor mental health. The programme gave me a new lease on life. We discussed the impact of stress a lot, which was incredibly helpful. I really hope more programmes can become available for others living with chronic pain, I found it to be invaluable.”

Chronic pain – defined as pain persisting for more than 12 weeks – affects more than 10,000 people in Weston, Worle, and surrounding villages, many of whom require long-term treatment. Among them, more than 6,000 face additional challenges, including anxiety, depression, frequent visits to the emergency department, or reliance on strong painkillers.

Vanessa Davidson, 57, is another patient who has benefitted from the new Pain Management Group.

Ten years ago, Vanessa was diagnosed with a phaeochromocytoma, a rare tumour of the adrenal glands located above the kidneys. The tumour required surgical removal, but since her operation at Southmead Hospital, she has endured chronic pain.

She said:

“After the operation, I thought my recovery was just slow. I’d had less serious tumours removed before, and I assumed that at my age, the pain would simply last longer this time.

“However, the pain never left. It’s constant – 24/7 – and moves throughout my body, from my arms to my pelvis and down my legs. There’s no cure, and it severely limits my lifestyle. Even a simple knock to a joint can take months to heal and flare-ups leave me bedridden for days.”

With medication providing little relief, Vanessa sought ways to manage both the physical and mental toll of her condition.

Vanessa said:

“I was invited to join a pain support group in Bristol but traveling from home in Weston and back after emotional sessions was too overwhelming for me.

“When the Weston programme became available, I was thrilled. I can’t praise the team enough. I gained so much, from wellbeing strategies to new friendships. Chronic pain is often invisible and isolating, but this support group has truly been a lifeline. During the programme, I pledged a personal goal to walk 10k for charity, and with the support of the practitioners and other members of the group, I did it!”

Additional to the new Pain Management Group, the Trust introduced monthly Chronic Pain Meetings in Weston-super-Mare in September 2024. These include joint Case Conferences for complex GP referrals and a Pain Forum for healthcare professionals to collaborate, share resources, and reduce overprescribing.

Dr Charlotte Steeds, Consultant in Anaesthesia and Pain Medicine and Lead for Chronic Pain Management at UHBW, said:

“Our goal is to establish a regular pain management programme in Weston delivered by the UHBW team, as well as helping to support a robust community service.

“Living with chronic pain is incredibly challenging, and people need to be able to access help as easily as possible. With the backing of Bristol Health Partners and the West of England Health Innovation Network, we are tackling long-standing health inequalities and offering new hope to those who may have felt they had exhausted all options.

“A huge thanks also to Dr Krisztina Kenesey, Consultant at the UHBW Pain Clinic, who introduced the monthly pain clinic meetings last year. These have proven to invaluable to chronic pain sufferers.”

Since January 2022, UHBW has also been running monthly satellite pain clinics at Weston General Hospital. These clinics provide patients with an initial assessment by a consultant specialising in Pain Medicine, with the goal of developing a personalised pain management plan. Patients are referred to the clinic by their GP or another hospital specialist. Depending on individual needs, the management plan may include medication advice, injection therapies, nurse-led treatments such as TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) or acupuncture, physiotherapy guidance, and one-to-one support from a pain psychologist. Patients may also be offered the opportunity to join a pain management group.

For patients who opt to see a pain psychologist, appointments can be arranged to take place at the Weston General Hospital satellite clinic, ensuring continuity of care close to home.

Judith Hernandez del Pino, Hospital Director at Weston General Hospital, said:

“People living with chronic pain face daily challenges, and it’s essential that support is accessible, so no one is left behind.

“We’re thrilled that our first Pain Management Group in Weston has been such a success, with truly inspiring feedback from participants. We are committed to building on this important work to provide lasting support for those who need it most.”

Professor David Wynick, Consultant in Pain Medicine at UHBW and Director of Bristol Health Partners Academic Health Science Centre, recently led a study in partnership with the Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) Integrated Care Board (ICB) to examine the demographics, characteristics, and population health impact of people living with chronic pain in the region.

He said:

“Chronic pain is a complex condition that can significantly affect quality of life, often causing considerable suffering and disability, particularly for those living with chronic primary pain.

“Our research highlights the widespread impact of chronic pain across BNSSG. By utilising local data and population health expertise to strengthen local services, we can provide more equitable and effective support for the patients who need it most.”

Read ‘The burden of Chronic Pain in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire’ report.

UHBW plans to launch a second 8-week Pain Management Group programme in the summer (2026).