How it will implement the Getting Relevant Information on Pain Services (GRIPS) report and when.

The GRIPS report (2007) published by Healthcare Improvement Scotland and revised in 2008, set out six priority actions aimed at improving service provision. The previous Cabinet Secretary addressed the first priority action by recognising chronic pain as a condition in its own right in May 2008.
Following the publication of the GRIPs report the Scottish Government appointed a Lead Clinician for Chronic Pain and established the National Chronic Pain Steering Group. The Scottish Government has proactively promoted the need to develop chronic pain services and implementation of the GRIPs actions will be achieved through the implementation of the Scottish Service Model for Chronic Pain in addition to the range of work being progressed by the National Steering Group.
In addition to funding the lead clinician the Scottish Government has also provided funding for three part time facilitator posts. The facilitators are employed by Healthcare Improvement Scotland and support the Lead Clinician to co-ordinate the various work streams within the National Chronic Pain Steering Group’s work plan for 2012-13.
The Scottish Government continues to advocate the role of managed clinical networks in improving the provision of services, including those for chronic pain. We are encouraging NHS boards who have not already done so to establish these.