For one in five Australians, chronic pain is a daily struggle, creating physical and emotional barriers that feel insurmountable.
However, the Sunshine Coast Persistent Pain Management Service (SCPPMS) is offering hope with innovative solutions to this widespread issue.
The growing Sunshine Coast population, expected to hit 500,000 by 2041, has increased demand for persistent pain services, particularly among the over-70 age group.
Recognising this gap, SCPPMS has evolved its services with the Connected Community Pathways (CCP) project, introducing outreach clinics in Gympie, Maleny, and Caloundra.
These clinics reduce travel barriers, saving patients an impressive 43,000 kilometres in travel within the first 18 months of operation.
For patients like Sarah, a Sunshine Coast local who endured chronic pain for over a decade, the impact has been life changing.
“For years, I felt like my pain was invisible. The outreach clinic was the first place I felt heard and cared for. Now, I have tools to manage my condition and hope for the future,” Sarah shares.
These clinics go beyond traditional medical care, incorporating social prescribing to address the social factors contributing to chronic pain, such as isolation and inactivity.
Patients are connected to community groups and support services, while Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients benefit from culturally tailored care, including a dedicated clinic.
In addition to supporting patients, SCPPMS offers educational sessions and a GP advice line to equip healthcare providers with the tools to manage complex pain cases.
Dr. Alison Grey, a local GP, highlights the benefits of this system-wide transformation, “We’re seeing better outcomes for patients because we’re better equipped as a community to support them.”
The program has also established regular clinics at Wishlist Centre, described as a ‘haven for healing,’ this warm, inviting space offers peer support and wellness services, fostering a sense of community and reducing the isolating nature of chronic pain.
Despite its successes, challenges remain.
Misconceptions about pain clinics and societal stigma around chronic pain continue to create barriers for some patients.
However, the SCPPMS is breaking down these walls through compassionate and accessible care, creating a future where individuals no longer face their struggles alone.
Chronic pain might not have a cure, but the Sunshine Coast Persistent Pain Management Service is proving that community, innovation, and empathy can turn pain from an isolating burden into a shared challenge we can overcome together.
