Airing Pain

This edition has been funded by a grant from the Scottish Government. Christine Johnston heads to Brussels to investigate the impact that pain has on society as a whole at the Societal Impact of Pain lobby group’s fourth annual event. Christine talks to Neil Betteridge of Neil Betteridge Associates which promotes a holistic approach to pain management. Betteridge explains that early intervention is beneficial not only for the patient but also for employers, as it leads to faster, more effective treatment and less time spent outside of the workplace. Jamie O’Hara, who works with Adelphi Real World and the Haemophilia Society, discusses the results of a survey carried out about the effect pain has on society, which found that those living with chronic pain and their carers experience disproportionately high levels of unemployment.  Christine also speaks to Jacqui Lyttle, an Independent Commissioning Consultant, who criticises the current care given to those with chronic pain conditions, citing wrong di