Written question asked by Laurence Robertson (Conservative) on Friday, 9 September 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 14 September 2011. It was answered by Paul Burstow (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 14 September 2011 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Pain

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate he has made of the number of people with chronic pain in (a) England and (b) Gloucestershire; what NHS services and treatment are available to people with chronic pain; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: An authoritative estimate of the prevalence of chronic pain in England is not currently available. The 2008 report by the former Chief Medical Officer reported an estimate that 7.8 million people in the United Kingdom suffer moderate to severe pain that has lasted for six months or more. A module has been included in the 2011 Health Survey for England which should in due course provide an estimate of the total number of people with chronic pain for England—though not for individual counties—using the more normal definition of pain lasting for three or more months.All general practitioners have experience of treating patients with pain, and of referring on for specialist assessment or treatment as needed. Specialist treatments include specialist pain relief, physiotherapy, surgery, osteopathy and chiropraxis, pain self-management programmes and psychological interventions. The aim of treatment is to support patients in living with and managing their pain and there is an important role for voluntary organisations in providing peer group support and patient education.

Secondary information