Parliament Workbench

Petition · PE01460 · Session 4

Improvement of services and resources to tackle chronic pain

Closed Submitted 14 Oct 2012 Health
Signatures
1
684 online signatures with a country
Comments
43
Considered
6 meetings
in the Official Report

What it asks

Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to (a) hold a debate on the matter with a vote or voting rights (b) transfer more of the management for chronic pain into primary care (c) provide more social model care instead of medical model (d) change its policy to provide direct funding to ensure radical improvements to the service can be made including establishing a residential unit in Scotland to prevent Scottish pain patients being sent to Bath in Somerset for treatment

What the petitioner did first

Raised awareness in Cross party working group Scottish Parliament with MSP’s and organisations from all over UK for over 12 years.
Submitted a petition to Scottish Parliament for improved services on 28.05.2001
Won support from 130,000 members of the public by email to the Parliament calling for urgent help for chronic pain in February and March 2002.
Gained backing from the Health and Community Care committee in May, 2002.
MSPs have asked many questions over the last 12 years. Links to sample of questions raised in Scottish Parliament from Mar 2000 – Jan 20
http://webmail1.mail.aol.com/37105-111/aol-6/en-gb/mail/get-attachment.aspx?uid=29002988&folder=OldMail&partId=3&saveAs=mary_scanlon_parliamentary_questions.doc
http://webmail1.mail.aol.com/37105-111/aol-6/en-gb/mail/get-attachment.aspx?uid=29002988&folder=OldMail&partId=4&saveAs=jackie_baillie_-_parliamentary_questions.doc

Where it was considered

Official Report
  1. 8 Jan 2013
    Public Petitions Committee
    New Petitions
    1 mention
  2. 16 Apr 2013
    Public Petitions Committee
    Current Petitions
    1 mention
  3. 25 Jun 2013
    Public Petitions Committee
    Current Petitions
    2 mentions
  4. 10 Dec 2013
    Public Petitions Committee
    Current Petitions
    1 mention
  5. 3 Jun 2014
    Public Petitions Committee
    Current Petitions
    1 mention
  6. 30 Sep 2014
    Public Petitions Committee
    Current Petitions
    1 mention

Signatures by country

684 online signatures
  1. Scotland421 61.5%
  2. England111 16.2%
  3. United Kingdom109 15.9%
  4. United States18 2.6%
  5. Wales7 1%
  6. Mexico3 0.4%
  7. Australia3 0.4%
  8. Canada2 0.3%
  9. Fiji1 0.1%
  10. Ireland1 0.1%
  11. 8 other countries8 1.2%

Comments

43 comments, oldest first
  1. Paulo Quadros 26 Oct 2012
    Evidence shows that social factors directly affect health, including chronic pain. By addressing this aspect and transferring the focus of pain management into primary care with appropriate funding, people suffering from chronic pain would be much more able to have equal access to a more effective service within a shorter period of time.
  2. speedy bjorn 28 Oct 2012
    Good job
  3. Maria Laverty 30 Oct 2012
    More recognition and help needed for this condition and Fibromyalgia
  4. Rafael Young 1 Nov 2012
    This isn't just about improving the care given (although that's important), it's about protecting the rights of Scottish patients, and
    - perhaps most of all in these difficult times
    - preventing a huge, HUGE unnecessary spend to ship these people out of the country.
  5. Dorothy-Grace Elder 5 Nov 2012
    Susan Archibald is a superb campaigner for the disabled
    - chronic pain services are grossly under-funded and must be aided. Remember that over 700,000 suffer pain long term in Scotland, to varying degrees, up to a suicidal state of agony.
  6. Arlene Caldwell 6 Nov 2012
    As a healthcare professional working with many patients for the past 10 years in a pharmacy setting- I still find it incomprehensible that in this day and age we don't have a specialist in this field closer to home. Too many patients wait far too long for a referral to a pain clinic if that is even offered to them once conventional treatments fail. I have heard of too many patients in crippling agony having to fight to see a specialist which I find unacceptable. In today's fast paced world there can be and should be more facilities available for patients. I fully support this petition.
  7. mike wallace 7 Nov 2012
    More power to ye Susan...if Drumatik Drum Group can help, just ask :-)
  8. Michael G Cooper 12 Nov 2012
    I live in pain, more needs to be done for us chronic pain sufferers. :(
  9. Iain Morrison 13 Nov 2012
    We need a better resourced and funded pain management clinic for all parts of Scotland!
  10. paddi obrien 13 Nov 2012
    if you suffer with cronic pain the support you get from professionals is something cronic pain suffers should have easy access to.
    like many cronic pain suffers medication is only part of the story the other half is called pain management this can only be achieved with cronic pain consultants
  11. Irene Logan 15 Nov 2012
    We need to improve access to specialist chronic pain specialists services as soon as possible. Instead of GP's handing out pain medication they need to refer patients to pain services before it turns in to chronic pain
  12. Mary Moffat 15 Nov 2012
    My husband suffers Rheumatoid Arthritis the pills they give him do not help but no-one listens you are regarded as a moan.
  13. Linda Lumsden 15 Nov 2012
    Because Fibromyalgia has lowered my intolerance to additives and chemicals, I cannot take painkillers or anti-depressants. My Rheumatologist says there is nothing much he can do for me now,
  14. catherine smyth 16 Nov 2012
    please start to recognise fibromyalgia as a debilitating illness and provide the support and research needed to assist sufferers.
  15. Victoria Blake 16 Nov 2012
    Medical staff are given little training in chronic pain illnesses and very often don't understand the person's condition and needs leading to unnecessary suffering. Greater awareness, knowledge and support of chronic pain sufferers would make a huge difference.
  16. Alison Fisher 16 Nov 2012
    Please bring in legislation that NHS does more to help people with Chronic Pain and more research .
  17. Mhairi Reynolds 16 Nov 2012
    GP's have little or no resources to help us FM ME CFS sufferers. Most they can do is hand out pills, which is not ideal. More funding to help us here in Scotland
  18. Frances Stewart 17 Nov 2012
    Please start to recognise fibromyalgia as the debilitating and disabling condition that it is. It has been scientifically proven to be REAL!
  19. Alison Crerar 18 Nov 2012
    I am sure that fibromyalgia will eventually be found to have a real biochemical cause. Please fund research to discover what causes this condition and in the meantime offer sufferers the very best help in managing to live with it.
  20. L Crosby 19 Nov 2012
    I have fibromyalgia.... ask anyone with fibro the effects of stress and aggro? WELL the stress and aggro I have suffered which ultimately resulted in chronic pain and fatigue FIGHTING to be recognised as a sufferer, my mental health has suffered ! Its time the ignorant were educated of and by ignorant I mean the so called health professionals who continue to deny our conditions exist
  21. Gregory S Wilson 19 Nov 2012
    please keep up the progress
  22. Beatriz Robles 19 Nov 2012
    It is very important that advanced economies take further steps into giving chronic pain syndromes or diseases an important attention for patients within their healthcare systems. These actions do matter to other countries (like Mexico), as healthcare systems have tendencies to standardize following leading countries steps.
  23. Beatriz robles 19 Nov 2012
    I can't believe there is no meds that can help me to kill my pain. I wish not to live anymore. This pain is hard to believe.
  24. Helen Brown 19 Nov 2012
    This is needed urgently.
  25. Annabeth Robb 19 Nov 2012
    I suggest that people who fail to turn up for an appointment without phoning to cancel or providing a good reason be subject to a fine--this would release plenty of funds to be used for pain management. Also, small trial amounts of prescriptions could be issued to reduce the amount of drugs returned unused. The NHS could do with some sensible business audits. I've met too many people whose chronic pain is very badly managed!
  26. Mary Macfarlane 19 Nov 2012
    University Hospital North Durham Chronic Pain Services is making use of NIHP integrating Bowen Technique as core treatment for pain. Scotland could lead on this.
  27. Bill Lowrie 19 Nov 2012
    I am painfully aware of the failings in provision, having watched my daughter suffer with limited access to medical help and physiotherapy.
  28. Mrs j steel 20 Nov 2012
    I am very much aware of the little access there is to medical and physiotherapy overall in scotland. I have however been on a pain management course which did bring some awareness to my problems but i agree the travelling to these hospitals can add to the stress we as sufferers already deal with.
  29. Greig Addison 20 Nov 2012
    This needs your support!
  30. ROBINA M HADDOW 21 Nov 2012
    WE NEED MORE RESEARCH AND FOR BENEFITS TO ACCPET THAT THIS IS REAL.WITH THE LACK OF PAIN CONSULTANTS WE SUFFER NEEDLESS LAY. AS WE NEVER KNOW FOR DAY TO DAY HOW WE WILL BE FI WE GET ANY SLEEP WITH THE PAIN. IF WE HAVE SOME SLEEP THEN WE FEEL THE PAIN FAR MORE.
  31. Kevin Scaridifeld 21 Nov 2012
    Worldwide Awareness Campaign
    Youtube The RSD Fighters Anthem
  32. wendy kelly 1 Dec 2012
    those imposing the post code rules, re- help for people suffering with chronic pain, do not face the same problems themselves, they have little empathy for people in pain, these decision makers, need to be made to walk in the shoes of the victims of post code lottery medical help .
  33. Susan Macdonald 1 Dec 2012
    As a fibromyalgia sufferer who is struggling to keep working full time I feel completely abandoned by the medical profession. No-one seems interested in helping me manage my symptoms or helping me keep working. I was simply told because i don't have rheumatoid arthritis there is nothing anyone can do for me!
  34. Alyson Dunlop 3 Dec 2012
    I find it astounding that there is still no involvement of hypnotherapists in chronic pain treatment. I have used hypnosis on clients for pain control, and it has worked better (and is more long-lasting) that heavy duty painkillers such as co-codamol. Why on earth is this not being promoted as a possible form of treatment. It would save the NHS so much money, and give much needed employment to hypnotherapists.
  35. Roxanne Stewart 3 Dec 2012
    ALL pain patients everywhere deserve prompt and proper treatment. We have the capacity to reduce suffering, if not eliminate it, and we have the moral obligation to do so. The unreasonable failure to treat pain is an unethical breech of human rights. As more than one body has declared (WHO, UN, IASP)
    - pain management is a unquestionable human right!
  36. alan roberts 3 Dec 2012
    no one should have to leave their own country to seek treatment and help elswhere
  37. Alex 6 Dec 2012
    Pain, really is a PAIN.
  38. Barbara Robertson 6 Dec 2012
    We watched my mother die of stomach cancer in a hospice, I cannot imagine the suffering she and others would have had without the excellent care and, particularly pain management, provided in Dunoon, Argyll, where family and friends could also visit easily. To suffer chronic pain and be carted around the UK seems cruel. I am a farmer's daughter. No farmer would inflict this on an animal with impunity. Please make it a priority to provide this service locally to patients. Thank you.
  39. Andrew Sneddon 6 Dec 2012
    even with chronic pain ATOS health say that you are perfectly fit to work and the goverment believes them even with X-Rays and doctors statements. You cannot sign on for jobseekers as the statement requires you to state that you will work for 30 hours per week. so do you have to lie to live?
  40. Mrs Mary Carey 7 Dec 2012
    Pain is a terrible thing to endure, everyone should be entitled to the best pain management available to enable them to cope and try to enjoy their lives. Chronic pain can also lead to mental health which is really not acceptable.
  41. SW 8 Dec 2012
    More should be done to help those hundreds of people in the UK suffering from Complex Regional Pain Syndrome...often misdiagnosed there are hundreds of professionals who know nothing about it and therefore don't help those who need support!! So care is a post code lottery! Pain is deemed subjective and therefore the person gets blamed for not being able to cope with it.....I would like to give them pain level 10 for half and hour just to see how they would manage! Education is urgently required!
  42. Jackie Anderson 8 Dec 2012
    I am a chronic pain sufferer who has had the fortune to have met and had a pain consultant in Gartnavel Hospital in Glasgow who has made my life better by working with me to manage my pain.
  43. Michael Grieve 10 Dec 2012
    My Wife is a Chronic Pain sufferer more must be done to help these people who have constant pain