Professional Publications
As well as Pain News and the British Journal of Pain, the British Pain Society aims to produce contemporary guidance, supported by available evidence, on clinical and other pain matters. Documents are updated three yearly to incorporate relevant new information.
The following publications are available to download in PDF format.
Delivering Group Based Pain Management Interventions through Virtual Platforms
Guidance developed by the Pain Management Programme Special Interest Group of the British Pain Society January 2022
Pain Management Services are considering alternatives to traditional Pain Management Programmes (PMPs) as a result of restrictions on face-to-face (F2F) healthcare delivery in response to Covid-19. This document provides guidance in relation to the development, delivery and evaluation of virtual alternatives to PMPs, incorporating learning from early adopters.
The Assessment of Pain in Older People: UK National Guidelines (2018)
Pre-registration Pain Education: A Practical Guide to Incorporating Pain Education into Pre-registration Curricula for Healthcare Professionals in the UK (2018)
This publication includes the information pamphlet 'Intrathecal drug delivery systems for
treating pain and spasms - Information for patients'. (Please go to the patient publications section to view a copy).
This resource, developed by UK healthcare professionals and policymakers, provides the information to support a safe and effective prescribing decision. Please note Opioids Aware is a web-based resource, funded by Public Health England and hosted by the Faculty of Pain Medicine, Royal College of Anaesthetists. It can be accessed here: http://www.fpm.ac.uk/faculty-of-pain-medicine/opioids-aware
Royal College of Nursing; Pain Knowledge and Skills Framework for the Nursing Team (2015)
A publication by the Royal College of Nursing, endorsed by the British Pain Society can be downloaded here: https://www.britishpainsociety.org/static/uploads/resources/files/RCN_KSF_2015.pdf
Guidelines for Pain Management Programmes for adults (2013)
An evidence-based review prepared on behalf of the British Pain Society.
This publication includes the information pamphlet Participant Information for Pain Management Programmes. (Please go to the patient publications section to view a copy).
Managing persistent pain in secure settings (2013)
A guide for professionals working in custody settings, to support best practice in diagnosing, assessing and managing the symptoms of persistent pain among prisoners, published by Public Health England (PHE). The guide has been written in association with the Faculty of Pain Medicine of the Royal College of Anaesthetists, the Royal College of General Practitioners and the British Pain Society, and is supported by the Department of Health.
To view a copy, please visit: http://www.nta.nhs.uk/uploads/persistentpain.pdf
Guidance on the Management of Pain in Older People (Age and Ageing 2013)
Management of Pain in Older People, is an evidence-based clinical guideline published jointly by the British Pain Society and the British Geriatrics Society.
To view a copy, please visit: http://ageing.oxfordjournals.org/content/42/suppl_1.toc
Use of medicines outside of their UK marketing authorisation in pain management and palliative medicine (2012)
This document summarises the views of the Association for Palliative Medicine (APM) and the British Pain Society in relation to the use of drugs outside of their UK marketing authorisation beyond their product licence in clinical practice. The publication has recently been reviewed in accordance with the Society’s publication review policy.
This publication includes the information pamphlet Use of medicines outside of their UK marketing authorisation in pain management and palliative medicine - information for patients. (Please go to the patient publications section to view a copy).
You can download a copy of the 2012 document, free of charge, by following this link:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/pan.2012.22.issue-s1/issuetoc
Best practice in the management of epidural analgesia in the hospital setting (2020)
These recommendations have been prepared by a working party led by the Faculty of Pain Medicine of the RCoA with representation from The Royal College of Anaesthetists, the Royal College of Nursing, the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland, the British Pain Society and the Society of British Neurological Surgeons.
Cancer Pain Management (2010)
April 2014 update: The joint BPS/APM Cancer Pain Working Party chairs have considered the review of this existing document and find the information to still be valid. The publication will next be reviewed in late 2014
A perspective from the British Pain Society, supported by the Association for Palliative Medicine and the Royal College of General Practitioners.
This publication includes the information pamphlet Managing Cancer Pain - information for patients. (Please go to the patient publications section to view a copy).
The recognition and assessment of acute pain in Children (2009)
A publication by the Royal College of Nursing, endorsed by the British Pain Society can be downloaded, free of charge, from the Royal College of Nursing website at: https://www2.rcn.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/269185/003542.pdf
Spinal cord stimulation for the management of pain: recommendations for best practice (2009)
The Chair of the publication working group has considered the review of this publication and as no new evidence is currently available the guidelines still stand. The publication will next be reviewed in Spring 2015
This consensus document, produced in conjunction with the Society of British Neurological Surgeons, clarifies the rationale for the use of spinal cord stimulation for pain, gives guidance regarding patient selection, and makes recommendations regarding the context in which therapy should be delivered.
This publication includes the information pamphlet Spinal cord stimulation for pain - Information for patients. (Please go to the patient publications section to view a copy).
Pain Mechanisms DVD (available as hard copy only) (2008)
Available on CD (at £6.60 each) from the Secretariat ' An introduction to the neurophysiology of pain, peripheral and central mechanisms by Professor Anthony Dickenson. Introduced by Dr Joan Hester.'
Guidelines for Competencies of PwSI (2008)
These guidelines were launched, with cardiology, respiratory, older person, diabetes at a Department of Health meeting on Wednesday 17th September 2008.
The assessment of pain in older people: National Guidelines (2007)
**PLEASE NOTE THIS GUIDELINE IS CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW**
A joint publication produced by the Royal College of Physicians, the British Geriatrics Society and the BPS.
A copy of the full report can be found on the British Geriatrics Society website by clicking here.
Pain and substance misuse: improving the patient experience (2007)
**PLEASE NOTE THIS GUIDELINE IS CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW**
Copies of this document are available to downloaded free of charge by clicking the image. This publication includes the information pamphlet Pain and problem drug use - information for patients (please go to the patient pages in the publication section).
