Oxford Pain Management Centre (formerly Pain Relief Unit)
Oxford Pain Management Centre (OPMC) is the outpatient department of the OUH pain service.
Our name reflects our intention to provide patients with the education, support and skills to manage their pain effectively and to make sure that they fully understand their condition. This forms a major part of each consultation.
Our aim is not only to reduce the burden of pain but to improve self-management, encourage mobility and reduce the negative psychological impact of pain. It is often not possible to cure long term pain but, with help, patients can return to a higher quality of life despite the pain.
Our history
We are very proud of our history. Oxford was one of the first dedicated pain management services in the United Kingdom.
In 2020 we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Oxford Pain Relief Unit (now the Oxford Pain Management Centre) and remember Dr John Lloyd, the visionary doctor who set it up and inspired doctors around the world:
50 Years On - The History of the Oxford Pain Relief Unit 1970 – 2020 (pdf, 1.3 MB)
Referral pathway
Oxford Pain Management Centre referrals
Our services
We offer several different clinics, including:
- Consultant
- Advanced Clinical Practitioner
- Nurse
- Joint Consultant and Psychologist
Treatment
- Your stay may be between one and six hours.
- Please bring your glasses if you need them for reading.
- Always bring a list of all your current medication, and take all your regular medication on treatment days, unless advised to omit anything by our staff.
- If there is any possibility you may be pregnant, please tell us.
- You will not be given an injection at your first clinic appointment.
- If you are subsequently offered an injection appointment you will need someone to drive you home and be available for your care afterwards.
- If you are feeling unwell, have an infection or an open wound, or are due to have an operation shortly after your planned pain appointment, please let us know.
- If you are unable to attend your appointment, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can use the appointment for someone else.
Our team
Consultants
- Dr Timothy McCormick (Clinical Lead)
- Dr Peter Cole
- Dr Nilay Chatterjee
- Dr Qaisar Khalil
- Dr Tudor Phillips
- Dr Jane Quinlan
- Dr Richard Sawyer
Clinical Nurse Specialists
All our Clinical Nurse Specialists work in both inpatient and outpatient services.
Clinical Psychologists
- Dr Emily Leathers-Smith
- Dr Victoria Edwards
- Dr Sandra Wiltshire (Pain Psychology Lead)
We have provided links to a selection of online resources below, which we hope you will find helpful for managing your pain and wider wellbeing.
We know from experience that the key to living well, despite ongoing pain, is self-management. When people learn how to self-manage their pain, their quality of life improves. Eventually it stops dominating their day and they begin to get more out of life.
Find us and contact us
Oxford Pain Management Centre (formerly Pain Relief Unit)
Churchill Hospital
Old Road
Headington
Oxford OX3 7LE
Appointments: 01865 227900 Monday to Friday 8.30am - 4.00pm
Parking
Please allow one hour to find a parking place: the Churchill site is very busy and it is likely that there will be queues for the car parks.
Car travel and parking - Churchill Hospital
Directions
From the Churchill Hospital main entrance (Surgery and Diagnostics) follow the link corridor towards the main hospital. Bear left at the reception desk and follow signs for Oxford Pain Management Centre or Pain Relief Unit. We are at the end of the corridor.
From any other entrance, follow signs for Dermatology until you reach the League of Friends Café. Go down the stairs, bear left and follow the corridor all the way round. Oxford Pain Management Centre (formerly Pain Relief Unit) is located at the end of the corridor, past the walkway to Dermatology.
Online resources
Please watch this video before coming to your pain appointment, as it will help you understand some of our suggestions for your pain management.
Video
Understanding pain in less than five minutes
Within the Pain Management Centre, we use patient education, medication, injections and psychological support, and we have close links with other specialties such as Physiotherapy.
Understanding chronic pain
Things you can do to help yourself
Mental health support (including getting urgent help)
Oxford Pain Management Centre offers psychological support focused on living well with persistent pain, but is unable to offer support for mental health emergencies or crises.
There are a range of options and services available should you, or someone else, feel in crisis or require urgent mental health support.
If you are, or someone else is, in danger, call 999 or go to A&E now.
For urgent help for your mental health, visit NHS 111 online or call 111.
Your mental health is as important as your physical health. You will not be wasting anyone's time.
For a further detailed list of available support, please visit:
Information for patients - Optimise Pain Rehabilitation Unit
Help to get more active
Help with sleep
Help with nutrition
Apps for your phone/tablet
Last reviewed:14 April 2025