Pain Management Centre (formerly Pain Relief Unit)
The Pain Management Centre (PMC) 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)
Our services
- Consultant-led appointments
- Nurse-led follow-up consultations
- Nurse-led telephone clinics
- Drug therapy recommendations
- Interventional pain management procedures if indicated
- TENS (low-level electrical stimulation to block pain signals to the brain)
- Pain Psychology Group
- Referral to other specialist services, if appropriate
Visiting the Centre
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
Your treatment in the Pain Management Centre.
- 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. Our consultant will decide if an injection might be appropriate after a careful assessment.
- If you do receive an injection you will need someone to drive you home, or your treatment will be cancelled.
- If you have recently received pain injections (including steroids) from your GP, a different department or other pain service, please contact us before your treatment date as it may influence the type of treatment you can have.
- If you are feeling unwell, have an infection or an open wound, or are due to have an operation shortly after your planned pain treatment, please let us know prior to your treatment date.
- 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 Peter Cole
- Dr Claire Frampton (joint Clinical Lead)
- Dr Timothy McCormick (joint Clinical Lead)
- Dr Tudor Phillips
- Dr Jane Quinlan
- Dr Richard Sawyer
Clinical Nurse Specialists
Liz Moir (Lead Nurse)
All our Clinical Nurse Specialists work in both inpatient and outpatient services.
Clinical psychologist
Dr Emily Leathers-Smith
Contact us
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
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 the 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. The Pain Management Centre (formerly Pain Relief Unit) is located at the end of the corridor, past the walkway to Dermatology.
Important online resources for patients
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
This is an excellent five minute overview of chronic pain by the Hunter Integrated Pain Service in Australia.
Our team provides a comprehensive service to patients with diverse pain problems, working with both patient and GP to create an individualised pain management plan for each patient.
We use patient education, medication, injections and psychological support, and we have close links with other specialties such as Physiotherapy.
Useful links
Managing chronic pain - NHS website
Sheffield Persistent Pain
Support for patients with pain
NHS websites
Videos about chronic pain and how to manage it
World Health Organization (WHO) animated videos
Apps
The Pain Toolkit app gives practical advice and techniques to manage pain:
Advice about sleep
Time To Sleep Better with The New Sleep Hygiene Guidelines
Advice about nutrition