Pain Management Task Force minutes: June 2025

Attendees and apologies

• Will Wood (Chair), Long Term Conditions Unit Head, Scottish Government
• Gayle McCann, Senior Policy Manager, Scottish Government
• Lyn Watson, National Clinical Lead for Pain Management
• Nina Cockton, Psychology Network Lead
• Anne Wallace, Professional Advisor
• Aline Williams, Service Managers Network Lead
• Samantha Mason, Pain Concern
• Suzanne Saunders, Pain Pharmacy Network Lead
• Lived Experience Volunteer

 

Apologies

• Lars Williams – Pain Medic Network Lead
• Nina Cockton – Pain Psychology Network Lead
• Suzanne Saunders – Pain Pharmacy Network Lead 
• Aline Williams – Pain Service Managers Network Lead
• Tracy Robertson – Pain AHP Network Lead
• Robert Sedgley – Health Improvement Manager, PHS
• Rory Mackenzie – Associate Clinical Director, CfSD
• Lived Experience Volunteer
• Sonia Aitken- Pain Association

 

Items and actions

Welcome and apologise

Chair welcomed members to the meeting.

Approval of minutes & matters arising

Minutes of the previous meeting were agreed and will be published on the website. 

Implementation Progress

The group were then provided with updates on the actions. Papers B.1 to B.18  were circulated to the group prior to the meeting.

Data Group – A meeting has taken place with Public Health Scotland who are still working through some issues with the new data collection, however it is hoped that new data will be published in December 2025. A document summarising the work will also be developed.

Workforce – The group aims to produce draft recommendations that offer a starting point for defining what a pain service might include, for discussion with the Short-Life Working Group.

Education – It was highlighted to the group that the enhanced and specialist training modules are in the early stages, the knowledge and skills framework is being developed as a continuation of existing modules, using the same format to ensure consistency across levels.

Manager’s Network – The group met on 19 May. The group are considering pain services and will look at output from the Workforce group

SLWGA – The group were informed that the lived experience engagement toolkit was published on the Knowledge Hub. The group will now begin working on potential comms for global pain month in September.  Work is being done with stakeholders including third sector. Discussions have also been held with clinical lead for Wales. 

Third Sector Network – The group were informed that network met on 17 June and Long Term Conditions Strategy Unit presented and answered questions on the ongoing consultation for the new Long Term Conditions Strategy.

Digital – The group were informed that the remote health pathway has already been developed, and the Connect Health team, together with policy colleagues, are actively engaging with boards to identify participants for an extended pilot.

National Standards – The group were informed that the business case is being strengthened to share with Healthcare Improvement Scotland. However, without confirmed funding, it is unlikely that the development of core standards for chronic pain will be included in the workplan over the next few years.

SIGN – The group were also informed that the Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network (SIGN) guidelines continue to progress, Wave 1 is expected by the end of December with waves 2 and 3 to follow soon after. 

Prescribing – The consultation for the polypharmacy guide will be published soon, and links will be share with the group once available. The chronic pain prescribing guide is nearing final draft. 

Interventions – The group were informed that the Scottish Health Technologies Group evidence review has begun and with a provisional publication date of December 2025.

Research – The group were informed that it has been provisionally agreed for funding to use the new SIGN guidelines to identify research priorities. Research gaps have already being identified by the SIGN guideline development process, there is no funding for actual research but its hoped that this exercise will identify prioritisation work that could open opportunities for research grants.

Implementation Plan Risk Register

The group were informed that there were no changes to the risk register from the previous meeting.

Communications

The group were informed that officials are looking to engage with pain services in each health board to understand the situation at ground level. The group were also advised that publication of new waiting times data may attract media or stakeholder attention, and the Long Term Conditions Unit will lead on communications handling.

AOCB

The group were informed that a request had been received about the questions currently included in the Scottish Health Survey. The group discussed if they felt that the questions in the Survey are still relevant and whether there should be changes. 

The group were also asked whether they were agreeable to reduce the length of these meetings to an hour, the group were supportive of this approach.