Child complex pain service
The Children’s Complex Pain Service supports children and young people living with ongoing or complex pain. We work with families and healthcare providers to understand the pain, reduce its impact, and help improve everyday life and wellbeing.
About the Children's complex pain service
The Children’s Complex Pain Service provides holistic assessment and management for children and young people aged 0–16 years with chronic or complex pain, working with families and referrers to reduce pain, improve function, and support overall wellbeing.
Our interdisciplinary team includes a senior pain specialist, clinical psychologists, physiotherapist clinical nurse consultant, and administration assistant. We use a holistic, “whole of life” approach, exploring not just the physical sensations of pain but also how it affects emotional wellbeing and daily life. We consider how pain impacts school, activity, sleep, and mental health to create a comprehensive care plan tailored to each child’s needs.
Key Eligibility Criteria and Referral Pathways
We see children and young people (0–16 years) living in the Northern Child Health Network with:
- Chronic or complex pain that has lasted at least 3 months (or is linked to a chronic condition).
- Pain that interferes with daily activities, mental health, school attendance, or recreation.
- Pain that has not improved with at least 3 months of local care (GP and allied health) or where local care is unsuitable due to complexity.
Referrals
- Formal written referrals must come from a GP, paediatrician, or medical specialist who will remain involved in care.
- An eReferral or NSW Pain Management Referral Form is also acceptable.
- If you’d like to discuss a referral or if the referral is urgent, please call us using the contact details below.
- Referrals should include: a history of the child’s pain, comorbidities, pain impact, previous treatments, current medications, relevant findings, ED visits, current clinicians, and referrer’s contact details
We also support young people already receiving care with us up to 19 years of age.
Young people aged 16 and older who are new referrals should be directed to adult pain services: Community Health Pathways.
Contact details
- Location: John Hunter Children’s Hospital, Lookout Road, New Lambton Heights NSW 2305
- Phone: 02 4921 4115 (messages monitored Tuesday to Friday)