HIPS history
History of Hunter Integrated Pain Service
A co-ordinated approach to pain management in the public hospital system in Newcastle began with the establishment of the Inpatient Pain Service at John Hunter Hospital in 1993. The major focus of the Inpatient Pain Service was the management of pain related to surgery and trauma. However, it soon became apparent that there was a need to expand the scope of the service to address other types of pain.
The Hunter Integrated Pain Service (HIPS) was formed in 1997 to provide multidisciplinary care to those with persistent non-cancer and cancer pain. The HIPS multidisciplinary team was based at Royal Newcastle Hospital where the major focus was on persistent non-cancer pain. A procedural service for cancer pain was set up in collaboration with the Palliative Care team at Newcastle Calvary Mater Hospital. Collaboration continued with the Inpatient Pain Service at the John Hunter Hospital to provide early intervention in high risk groups to reduce progression to persistent pain.
From 1997 until early 2006, HIPS provided services to John Hunter Hospital and Newcastle Calvary Mater Hospitals from the Royal Newcastle Hospital base. In April 2006 HIPS moved with many other Royal Newcastle Hospital services to the new Royal Newcastle Centre on the John Hunter Campus.
High demand on HIPS has encouraged a tradition of innovation and ongoing service development. From the outset services have included procedural and medication approaches, along with a group pain management program. An evolving approach has seen an increasing committment to health promotion and collaboration with general practitioners and other health professionals (see Community Interface Strategy diagram below).
HIPS future plans include further education and health promotion in the community and among health professionals. The aim is to facilitate patient access to appropriate pain management without necessarily requiring specialist referral. This will allow HIPS clinical staff to focus on providing a face to face service for a select group of patients with more complex needs.
