Clinical Services
The Hunter Integrated Pain Service (HIPS) provides multidisciplinary assessment and management for those with persistent pain. The Inpatient Pain Service at John Hunter Hospital and Royal Newcastle Centre is part of HIPS and manages acute post-operative and post-trauma pain. HIPS works collaboratively with Palliative Care at the Newcastle Calvary Mater Hospital in offering a service for those with cancer pain. In the cancer pain setting, HIPS' major role is in the provision of procedural interventions.
The HIPS team includes clerical, nursing, physiotherapy and psychology staff, along with doctors from liaison psychiatry and pain specialists from anaesthetic and rehabilitation medicine backgrounds.
Initial information about people referred to the service is gained via the medical referral letter and the HIPS Referral Questionnaire. Most people will then be invited to attend a group information session called "Understanding Pain". This summarises new concepts regarding the causation and management of persistant pain. Further details about "Understanding Pain" are outlined in the "Management" section below. It is anticipated that after this session some people will have enough information to progress with their own pain management in collaboration with their General Practitioner. Others will have the option of individual assessment or further group intervention at HIPS to develop a Pain Management Action Plan.