Strategy and workstreams

Strategy

The Chronic Pain HIT strategy 2024-27 was developed in collaboration with:

• people who represent health and social care services and commissioning relevant to chronic pain across the Bristol and Bath region,
• people with a wide range of chronic pain conditions

It was informed by ‘The Burden of Chronic Pain in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire’, a report produced in 2024 by Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) which captured valuable regional data about chronic pain based on the 1.1 million population living in the region.

The report highlighted that there are disproportionately higher rates of chronic pain affecting the following people in BNSSG:

• Women: 63% compared to 37% of men 

• Those living in areas of higher deprivation: Weston-super-Mare (Bournville), Worle and villages and South Bristol (Hartcliffe and Knowle West) (129 Indirectly standardised rates ISRs)¹ compared to the whole BNSSG chronic pain population (100 ISR). People living in the Inner city and East Bristol and/or are aged 80+ years.
  Some minority ethnic groups:  Chronic pain prevalence rate amongst the Black Caribbean group is 110 per 1,000 population compared to the overall BNSSG prevalence of 91 per 1,000 population. Those speaking Arabic or Somali as their primary language also have significantly higher rates of chronic pain.
  Most impactful in the over 50’s: 60% aged 60+ years have chronic pain.
  Those with long-term health conditions: anxiety, depression, high blood pressure and diabetes.
• Those who are homeless: 4.1 times higher than the whole BNSSG chronic pain population.

Current areas of work

Informed by the above strategy and report, the HIT leadership team has developed the following areas of work:

Opioid Reduction Workstream

The HIT is been developing resources to support people living with pain to explore alternatives to using medication to manage their symptoms, including a patient workbook with accompanying guide for the supporting clinician and an opioid reduction calculator.

Health Inequalities Workstream

The HIT is exploring how to improve services for people higher rates of chronic pain, including women, those living in lower socio-economic areas, homeless, some minority ethnic groups, people who are over 50 and those living with long term health conditions.

Weston-super-Mare and Worle Workstream

The HIT is working closely with colleagues across health and social care and those living within the region to understand the gaps in pain services and how this can be improved.

Getting involved

The Chronic Pain HIT is keen to hear from anyone with an interest in or experience living with chronic pain. Our membership represents a broad range of healthcare providers, professions and people living with pain, and their carers.

Please get in touch if you want to know more about our work or are interested in joining our HIT.