New Sites Chosen for Chronic Pain Services
Nova Scotians suffering from chronic pain will have access to more chronic pain services starting Nov. 1.
Health Minister Chris d'Entremont announced the locations of the part-time clinics at a conference focusing on current perspectives on the management of chronic pain today, Oct. 12, in Halifax. The clinics are part of the $1 million the Department of Health invested in the treatment of pain in the last budget.
"We know many Nova Scotians suffer from chronic pain and with these new services and this investment, we will be able to deliver more services in more communities," said Mr. d'Entremont.
Patients will now have access to a family physician with training in pain management, physiotherapist and/or occupational therapist, psychiatry or psychology services, case manager and administrative support.
Clinics that offer secondary services means patients will have access to an anesthesiologist if they require some type of nerve block.
Starting Nov. 1, chronic pain services will be offered at the following locations:
- One-day-a-week at the Western Kings Memorial Health Centre in Berwick and at St. Martha's Hospital in Antigonish;
- Secondary services will be offered two-days-a-week at the Yarmouth Regional Hospital, and one-day-a-week at the Colchester Regional Hospital, Cumberland Mental Health Services and the Aberdeen Hospital.
Funding is also being provided to improve existing chronic pain clinics in the Cape Breton District Health Authority, the Capital Health District Authority and the IWK Health Centre.
The Department of Health is providing $60,000 a year to each primary care clinic and $140,000 a year to each secondary care clinic as part of its action plan, developed with representatives from all nine district health authorities and the IWK.
Patients already on a waiting list for chronic pain services will automatically be placed in a provincewide database.
In addition to the new chronic pain sites announced today, there will be funding for education and training.