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Community and mental health services for Southampton, Portsmouth and parts of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

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Persistent pain

The most straightforward way to be referred if you live in Southampton or Portsmouth is via your GP. Sometimes other health care professionals who you are seeing such as a neurologist or a physiotherapist for example may talk to you about a referral. When considering whether this is the right time for you to be referred it is important to consider what kind of help you are looking for. The pain management service cannot offer a complete cure for your pain nor any medication that will completely take away the pain  and much of the work that is done will be focused on helping you enjoy a better quality of life despite pain.

When the Pain Team receive your referral they will look through the information and they may then ask you to fill in a specific questionnaire about your pain and how it affects you. Sometimes people are signposted to other services as there may be something else that needs to be dealt with, this can include needing other medical treatments or needing support from other services better placed to help you. If your referral is not accepted this does not mean that we would not see you in the future if appropriate.

 

When is the best time to be referred?

- If you have a diagnosis/all your investigations for you pain have been completed. If you have finished seeing other services who are working with you curing or reducing your pain (e.g. any surgery, physiotherapy, other procedures.)

- You agree and accept that the pain has become persistent and is having a significant impact on your day to day life.

- A willingness to learn about self-management approach to pain.

 

When would a referral not be appropriate?

- If you are looking for a further medical opinion or cure for your pain.

- If you are experiencing severe mental health problems, we would normally suggest delaying the referral until these are stable and managed.

 

For practitioners (Southampton):

GP’s please refer via Advice and Guidance module on Choose and Book where your referral letter will be screened by a consultant.  

Other practitioners: Please refer through a letter where it will be screened and advice and guidance given or your referral moved onto the next stage.

To contact the team directly our email address is : (for Southampton patients ONLY):   snhs.southamptonpainteam@nhs.net

 

Information sheet for referrers (Portsmouth)

Information sheet for referrers (South East Hampshire) 

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)

Please visit our services page for specific services and contact details. Alternatively, contact our Patient Advice and Liaison Service by emailing or calling the number below. You can also give us feedback, make a complaint or share a compliment.

pals@solent.nhs.uk

0800 013 2319

*Lines are open Monday to Friday 10am – 4pm.

The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act was passed on 30 November 2000. It gives a general right of access to all types of recorded information held by public authorities, with full access granted in January 2005.

The Act sets out exemptions to that right and places certain obligations on public authorities.

Email: InformationGovernanceTeam@solent.nhs.uk

Phone: 0300 123 3919

*Subject to any exemptions which apply, we are obliged to provide the information requested please note that requests for Personal Information is not covered under this Act and should be applied for through the Data Protection Act 1998.

Our administrative and managerial centre is based in Southampton.

While our services can be found around various NHS locations in Southampton and Portsmouth (and surrounding districts), our administrative and managerial centre is based in Southampton at:

Highpoint Venue
Bursledon Road
Southampton
SO19 8BR

If you require a printable version of how to find us including bus times, car access and bike info please download our leaflet. (Copyright of Highpoint Venue).

Central office phone: 0300 123 3390

*Lines open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.

If you are a journalist with a media enquiry, please contact the Communications Team at:

communications@solent.nhs.uk

0300 123 4156 or 02381 031076

The Communications Office is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.