Pain Management Task Force minutes: April 2026

Attendees and apologies

• Richard Brewster, Chair, Scottish Government
• Aline Williams, Pain Service Managers Network Lead
• Anne Wallace, Scottish Government Professional Advisor
• Craig Kennedy, Scottish Government and Secretariat
• Jacquelyn (Lyn) Watson, National Clinical Lead for Pain Management
• Rory Mackenzie, Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD)
• Samantha Mason, Pain Concern Scotland
• Stephanie Rodger‑Phillips, Scottish Government

 

Guest Attendee

• Dr Natalie Polack, Public Health Scotland (PHS)

Apologies

• Anna Graham, Psychology Lead Network
• Lars Williams, Pain Medic Network Lead
• Judith Rafferty, Lead Advanced Nurse Specialist
• Kieran Dunwoodie, General Practitioner (Centre for Sustainable Delivery)
• Prof Sonia Cottom, Pain Association Scotland
• Tracy Robertson, Allied Health Professions Network Lead

Items and actions

Welcome and Introductions

The Chair welcomed members and new members to the Group, noted apologies, and introduced Dr Natalie Polack from PHS who was attending to present on Waiting Times data.

Chronic Pain Waiting Times Publication (Public Health Scotland)

The group were presented with an overview of the revised Chronic Pain Waiting Times publication, setting out the rationale for the work and the development process.

Their results showed that variation exists across Boards in how pain management services are structured and delivered, particularly following service redesign during and after the COVID‑19 pandemic.

The first release of the revised publication was issued in December 2025, with a second release in March 2026. Data is currently designated as Official Statistics in Development feedback on potential improvements is welcomed.

Principal differences between the previous and revised publications:

• the introduction of reporting against a 12‑week waiting time target reflecting the most commonly used operational target across Boards.
• expanded scope to include all first appointments, regardless of clinician type, including consultants, doctors, physiotherapists, nurses, multidisciplinary team clinics, pain information sessions, psychology and other therapies.
• a specific category for patients waiting to be triaged, who were previously not captured if not yet placed on a waiting list.

Members welcomed the revised publication and noted that it more accurately reflects contemporary pain service delivery, noting that previous datasets failed to capture a substantial proportion of clinical activity. Both highlighted that the new publication better reflects modern, multidisciplinary pain services and should not be viewed as diluting consultant input or clinical quality.

Members asked PHS to consider whether Board‑level comparisons would benefit from population‑adjusted metrics (e.g. per‑capita measures), how early pain information sessions are categorised, and whether counting these as first appointments could be misinterpreted as removing patients from new outpatient waiting lists without improving care.

There was discussion on the ‘Waiting to be triaged’ category. The group heard a detailed explanation of local service factors affecting this classification (including consultant only triage models, visiting services, workforce constraints, and data system limitations). It was noted that there is a variation in how Boards interpret and use this category and suggested a need for clearer definition and closer alignment with wider outpatient improvement and referral management work.

Action 1 - PHS to review the definition of the ‘waiting to triage’ category with the National Lead for Pain Management, and agree how to best communicate this to clinicians and analysts in the Boards.

Scottish Government Update – Long Term Conditions (LTC) Policy

An update was provided on Scottish Government activity, confirming officials who will be working in the policy area, and outlined ongoing work on LTC.

Pain Management Work Programme Updates

Interventions (Scottish Health Technologies Group)

SHTG recommendations were published in February. The pre-election period provides an opportunity to ensure appropriate and representative stakeholder engagement before the next steps are finalised.

Workforce Short Life Working Group

Workforce SLWG is making good progress with a paper being shared with professional networks for feedback. The next iteration of this will be shared with the Network Leads at its next meeting (22 April).

Education Workstream

Two modules are live and undergoing evaluation. Funding to complete the remaining two modules this financial year is currently being discussed.

Global Pain Awareness Month

Work is underway to strengthen national coordination for Global Pain Awareness Month. The AHP Network Lead is leading on this work with strong third sector involvement. The focus at this stage is to agree consistent national messaging and to improve early engagement with NHS Board communications teams.

Core Minimum Data Set

Contacts have been identified from most boards to participate in discussions around adopting consistent outcomes data. Individuals from island boards still to be identified.

National Referral Pathway

Early development work has begun. The National Lead for Pain Management and colleagues from NHS GGC are collaborating to develop a consistent referral pathway for boards. There will be wider engagement as this progresses.

Networking Event

The planned in-person networking event has been rescheduled from 15 May to 18 September 2026. Further details and booking information will be circulated in due course.

Prevalence Algorithm / Audit Proposal

An abstract outlining work led by Lesley Colvin (Chair of the SIGN Guideline Development on chronic pain) on a chronic pain prevalence algorithm was discussed. Members noted its potential value, particularly in improving understanding of chronic pain in primary care.

It was agreed that inviting Lesley (or a colleague) to present their findings to the Task Force future would be helpful.

Action 2 - Task Force Chair to contact Lesley Colvin about presenting at a future Task Force meeting.

AOCB

Due to time constraints, Task Force members asked to share any comments or suggested amendments to the Chronic Pain Completion Plan (Paper 3) with the Secretariat by email.

Date of Next Meeting

Wednesday 17 June 2026, 11:00-12:00