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Campaign receives local support from Robert Goodwill MP

“I support the battle to save Scarborough Hospital Pain Clinic” 

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For further information click here 

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Save Scarborough Hospital Pain Clinic

The Pain Clinic is being threatened by the proposal put in place by the outgoing Scarborough Whitby & Ryedale PCT (SWR Primary Care Trust) cutting funds for treatments and procedures. Acupuncture and TENS machines have already been decommissioned from the Clinic. This was a sudden decision made without public consultation and within a month. It is proposed that the physiotherapists via the Hospital or the Doctors’ Surgeries will be able to perform the 800 or so acupuncture treatments/ year in the same manner as Dr. Kok. The physiotherapists are also commissioned to lend TENS machines out for a period of 6 months (and then the patient will have to buy their own). This will be about 300 p/year.This change in service is of grave concern to both the clinics medical staff and its patients.

The Group is now fighting a campaign to have all essential pain management treatments restored to the Pain Clinic under the expert guidance of Dr. D.F. Jones and the Team members.

We need to convince the “new" North Yorkshire & York Primary Care Trust to reinstate the funding and services supplied by the Scarborough Hospital Pain Clinic and then to expand the services by use of local GP Surgeries and other medical resources in the community to provide acupuncture and TEN’s fitting. But any “out sourced treatment” has to be under the clinical guidance of the Pain Clinic Staff to ensure continuity and quality of treatment.

Why are we Fighting & What For?

Dr. D.F. Jones started the Chronic Pain Service 23 years ago. He was joined 2 years later by Dr. Min-Min Paik. In 1994, Dr. Liz Garthwaite joined the team. The team also comprises, Dr. Janet Martin, the Clinical Psychologist, Occupational Therapy, Dietetics and Podiatry. There is no Physiotherapist due to their (Primary Care Trust) own shortage of staff which still exists today. Dr. Min-Min Paik was replaced by Dr. Ronnie Kok about 6 years ago. Dr. Tony Chico joined this Multi-Disciplinary Team about 2 years ago using Hypnotherapy and Behaviour Therapy for the patients.

Dr. Jones and Dr. Garthwaite have increased the range of treatments to include the use of botulinum toxin in the treatment of myofascial pain and they are trainers in its use in the UK. The Team are strong advocators of acupuncture and the use of TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) machines. Facet joint injections, spinal and epidural blocks and many other procedures have to be performed in a Theatre setting, as do most of the pain blocks for the Hospice patients.  

However, a proper regime of Pain Relief does not stop with the medical treatment given but ideally is carried through to influence the social life style of each individual patient. Those suffering from chronic pain will often find themselves leading a reclusive life, made worse by an inability to communicate the sensations of their pain, even to loved ones. It was to address this that the Pain Support Group was formed under the Professional care of the three nurses. Sister Sue Tindall, better known as Sue, has been a great benefit to the continuing welfare of the Group and her caring administrations positively affect each and every patient.