We accept referrals from specialist services such as pain clinics, orthopaedics and rheumatology. Direct referrals from GPs are also welcome.
All referrals must contain full background to the pain problem and include the results of appropriate investigations and treatments.
Medical responsibility
Referrals can only be accepted by a medical doctor as there are no medically qualified personnel at COPE. It is the responsibility of the referring health professional to ensure that appropriate medical investigations and treatments have been carried out and other possible causes of pain have been excluded.
It is important that the patient is given a clear message that the pain management programme is about pain management rather than symptom relief.
Referral process
All patients referred to COPE will be invited to attend a 2 ½ hour information and education session before being able to book an appointment for a multidisciplinary assessment with the COPE team and if appropriate offered a place on our full pain management programme.
This is to:
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Target our limited resource for multidisciplinary assessment and the full pain management programme on those patients who have a good understanding of what is involved and are motivated to make the changes needed to benefit.
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Reduce the waiting time for patients to be offered a therapeutic intervention by educating patients about pain mechanisms and coping strategies at an earlier stage.
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Provide patients with information about pain and some coping strategies whilst waiting for assessment.
An information leaflet regarding referrals can be downloaded along with a diagram of the referral pathway and a blank referral form.
