This very topical workshop was organised by Dr Bernhard Frank a Consultant in Pain Medicine at The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust based in Liverpool and was the first of four planned sessions to run throughout the year. The workshop consisted of lectures and case presentations given by Dr Frank and other members of the Walton Centre Pain Management Team, Dr Kerry Mathews, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Ms Rachael Barton, specialist nurse in pain management and neuromodulation, Mr Graham Derbyshire, Specialist Physiotherapist in Pain Management and Neuromodulation  and Mr Colin Brennan, Deputy Clinical Services Manager and Surgical Division Lead Pharmacist, University Hospital of Aintree, Liverpool.

The workshop was aimed at Consultants in Pain Medicine, General Practitioners, Nurse Prescribers and Community Pharmacists with a view  to inform about and improve assessment and management of chronic non-malignant pain with strong opioids in primary care. (GMC: Good practice in prescribing and managing medicines and devices 2013, Faculty of Pain Medicine: Opioids Aware) https://www.rcoa.ac.uk/faculty-of-pain-medicine/opioids-aware

Also to explain the pharmacology of opioids and consideration for the use in non-malignant pain, to demonstrate the assessment for opioid treatment and the management of patients treated with opioids in an opioid clinic and to explore the biopsychosocial character of chronic non-malignant pain and its implication for opioid therapy in a multidisciplinary real life workshop via two case studies.

In talking to the attendees during the course the content has been very well received with each of them taking away with them enhanced knowledge. I would therefor like to personally thank you all for your participation in the ‘Opioid Management in chronic non-malignant pain workshop held on Saturday 16th February and delivering a very successful workshop. The credit goes to you and the others who gave such interesting presentations.  Thank you so much for giving up your valuable family time at the weekend we know it is not an easy decision.

The Administrator