Quality prescribing for chronic pain 2026-2029: consultation
We are consulting on this draft updated chronic pain prescribing guidance. This guide aims to aim to support healthcare professionals and individuals navigating the complexities of chronic pain management.
Closed
This consultation closed 31 October 2025.
View this consultation on consult.gov.scot, including responses once published.
11. Chronic pain resources
11.1 Patient resources:
11.1.1 General information/advice
NHS Inform: Patient information on chronic pain
Website includes: General overview, Self-help activities - What can I do for myself?, link to chronic pain self help guide and links to other organisations.
Helping others to understand chronic pain
Information on assertive communication regarding the understanding of chronic pain for others (website from Cambridge University Hospital)
11.1.2 Help to understand chronic pain
Live Well with Pain website - Created by a small group of healthcare professionals working in pain management, using a self-management approach with their patients. Also includes input from people who themselves live with persistent pain. Includes: Ten Footsteps programme and self-management resources.
BrainmanTM Understanding Pain in less than five minutes
Five-minute video explaining chronic pain and options to support recovery.
Video: Tame The Beast - It's time to rethink persistent pain
Five-minute video explaining persistent pain.
Increased pain and tolerance with morphine-like medicines
A six-minute video from NHS Ayrshire and Arran discussing increased pain and tolerance from opioids.
Video: The impact of chronic pain and how to manage it
Three-minute video discussing chronic pain, acceptance and commitment.
A public health campaign with a clear goal: to change the way we think about, talk about and treat persistent pain. Includes information on chronic pain, real life stories and resources to help understand pain and move towards recovery.
Webinar: Everything you thought you knew about arthritis
Flippin' Pain webinar on arthritis - 1 hour 26 minutes
Webinar: Fibromyalgia – making sure people who get it, get it
Flippin' Pain webinar on fibromyalgia - 1 hour 30 minutes
11.1.3 Self management
Live Well with Pain 10 Footsteps for Rehabilitation Plan
Live Well With Pain ten footsteps, considering pain and the brain; acceptance; pacing; managing mood, medicines and nutrition, etc
10 top tips videos on supporting self-management from Dr Tim Williams
A series of short videos (from 31 seconds to a few minutes) from Live Well with Pain. Dr Tim Williams presents 10 top tips for supporting pain self-management in primary care
Introduction video: Patient led videos on chronic pain produced by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde pain team. Includes understanding of chronic pain, flare ups, activity, stress and sleep.
Individual's stories about their experiences dealing with and managing pain
Produced by NHS Fife as part of their Pain Talking resource
NHS Inform: coping with a flare-up of chronic pain
NHS Inform website sub-page on coping with a flare-up of chronic pain including self-management
Booklet: how to manage setbacks in chronic pain
Link to Live Well with Pain website for advice on managing setbacks in pain including a link to printable version
Reflections on recovering from a persistent pain 'flare'
A reflection from individual recovering from persistent pain 'flare' with top twenty tips from Living Well With Pain website
Leaflet: Managing emotions with chronic pain leaflet
A Pain Concern leaflet to help explore how chronic pain can affect your life and how to address these emotional effects
Video about pain, activity and pacing
27-minute video of a GP/patient discussion on pain, activity and pacing produced by NHS GGC
Booklet: Pain management goal setting
An eight-page booklet with problem solving example, pages for own goals and weekly plans, and personal action plan from NHS Highland
Website: Individual experiences on pain management pacing and goal setting
Short videos of how people used pacing to achieve their goals from Healthtalk/Dipex charity
Quick Guide for Accessing Silvercloud CBT app - National Wellbeing Hub
Information on National Wellbeing Hub regarding access to Silvercloud CBT app
Quick Guide for Accessing Sleepio - National Wellbeing Hub
Information on National Wellbeing Hub regarding access to Sleepio app
Website: Improve your sleep - general advice
General advice on improving sleep from charity Sleep Action
Leaflet: how to sleep well with pain and advice points
A 10-page leaflet with five changes to improve sleep in those with chronic pain from Live Well With Pain
Recording of progressive muscle relaxation instructions
An eight-minute voice recording of directed progressive muscle relaxation
Five-minute recording to support soothing rhythm breathing
A breathing exercise to promote calmness to self soothe from Royal Preston Hospital
Free meditation app - Insight Timer
Personalised programmes to support better sleep, relaxation, etc
Website with assorted relaxation exercises
Website explaining use of guided imagery, with links to voice recordings of peaceful setting, e.g. a beach or a meadow, from NHS Guy’s and St Thomas’ Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals
Weblink to information on impact of nutrition on pain from Live Well with Pain
Videos of true stories from Live Well with Pain website
Assortment of videos of varying length
A three-minute video with Colin reflecting on his pain journey, produced by NHS Ayrshire and Arran
11.1.4 Information on medication
Leaflet: Where do medicines fit in
A 24-page booklet from Live Well With Pain discussing
- persistent pain and why it happens
- how pain medicines can be helpful as part of your pain management plan
- some common problems you may experience with these medicines
- when to consider reducing your pain medicines and how to do it
- other ways of living well with pain
Leaflet: Information for individuals about opioid tapering/reduction
Includes information on long-terms side effects of opioids, why to decrease opioids, what to expect when reducing doses and how to do so
Leaflet: Opioid side effect lottery
A leaflet from Live Well With Pain detailing the potential side-effects of opioids which individuals can use to identify adverse effects.
A leaflet from Live Well With Pain, showing the relative doses of opioids and associated risks.
Real Stories - Painkillers Don't Exist
A series of people’s own experiences of living with pain, management and adverse effects of analgesics.
11.1.5 Third sector groups/charities
Pain Association Scotland website
A national charity that delivers professionally led self-management pain education in the community with local groups, pain management courses and assorted videos.
Tel: 0800 783 6059 (to join a group)
Versus Arthritis website (merger of Arthritis Care and Arthritis Research UK)
Information on: arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions, how to manage symptoms including pain, sleep, fatigue and local groups.
Tel: 0800 5200 520
Pain Concern Helpline 0300 123 0789
Pain jigsaw Pain management jigsaw | NHS Fife
11.2 Resources for healthcare professionals:
Wide range of leaflets and information sheets to download and print, including self-management information leaflets and tools, medicines information for people with pain and information posters for public waiting areas.
11.2.1 Pain assessments
Live Well with Pain Health Check tool/questionnaire
A three-page four-step pain assessment
British Pain Society Pain Scales Single page pain assessment. Suitable for ongoing use to evaluate effectiveness of therapies.
Pain self efficacy questionnaire
Single page pain assessment. Suitable for ongoing use to evaluate effectiveness of therapies.
Brief Pain Inventory assessment
A two-page pain assessment considering site of pain, intensity, impact of medication and pain on day-to-day activities
11.2.2 Opioid information
Prescribing advice for opioids from Faculty of Pain Management
Faculty of Pain Management advice and recommendations on prescribing and reduction of opioids
Pain Management opioid reduction calculator
Select opioid, starting dose, target (complete reduction or switch to another), weekly percentage reduction and website calculates weekly doses.
Increased pain and tolerance with morphine-like medicines video from NHS Ayrshire and Arran
Assesses candidacy for long-term opioid analgesia based on seven multiple choice questions.
Webpage with assorted modifiable opioid reduction templates from Oxford University Hospitals
Pain data website – medication information leaflets for patients includes leaflets on co-codamol, tramadol, dihydrocodeine and others.
Opioid Risk Tool (ORT) for inappropriate opioid use
Opioid Risk Tool which helps identify those at risk of inappropriate opioid use
NHS GGC Guideline- Medication safety in opioid prescribing for chronic non-malignant pain
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 43-page guideline provides guidance for prescribers on the management of people with chronic non-malignant pain.
Deprescribing information leaflet and information resource summary
A three-page leaflet summarising deprescribing in chronic non-cancer pain , including discussion points with individual, risk of withdrawal, tapering plans, resources. From Nottingham Area Prescribing Committee
11.2.3 GP Practice prescribing management and review systems
Pain management consultation model for primary care
Suggested content for three consultations
Primary care chronic pain management MDT
Includes: primary care MDT management pathway and exemplars letters for chronic pain medication reviews.
National Therapeutic Indicators (NTIs) Practice specific prescribing data
Deprescribing practice lessons learned Top 10 tips and actions plans from seven GP practices.
11.2.4 Education
NES Chronic Pain Knowledge Hub on TURAS. Chronic pain learning toolkit with e-learning modules in four levels dependent of levels of practice from informed to specialist. Free of charge but requires NES TURAS account
Turas Learn module: Finding a Way Through Chronic Pain Resource
Psychologically informed resource. One hour learning module Free of charge but requires NES TURAS account
Turas Learn module: Emotion Matters
A one-hour introductory module to increase understanding and awareness of the psycho-social aspects of living with a long-term condition. Free of charge but requires NES TURAS account
Turas Learn module: Building a shared understanding
One hour module to help staff to work collaboratively with people with long term conditions or persistent physical conditions. Free of charge but requires NES TURAS account
Turas Learn module: Mental health improvement, and prevention of self-harm and suicide
Four levels dependent of levels of practice from informed to specialist. Free of charge but requires NES TURAS account
Webinar on challenging consultations and recorded consultation of individual with fibromyalgia with drug seeking behaviour from NES. Free of charge but requires NES TURAS account.
Webinar: Dealing with drug seeking behaviour
A presentation with practical hints and tips on how to recognise and manage drug seeking behaviour.
Contact
Email: EPandT@gov.scot