Westmead Hospital Pain Management Centre
About us
Our services
Our pain clinic staff have specialist evidence-based expertise in empowering people to effectively manage pain.
The clinic team includes:
- pain specialist doctors
- rehabilitation specialist
- specialist anaesthetist
- physiotherapists
- clinical psychologists
- nurses
We also run pain programs which helps people with persistent pain to
- use more effective pain management skills
- improve mood and well being
- achieve goals and return to usual activities at home and work
- manage medication and services more effectively
Pain programs
The Pain Management Centre at Westmead Hospital offfers pain management programs. These programs help people manage pain - they are not aimed at eliminating people's pain.
The programs are about helping people to get back to living a meangingful life, whilst teaching people skills to manage their pain more effectively.
Our programs are run by a multidisplinary team, working together using an evidence-based and holistic approach. Our treatment is tailored to meet the individual needs of each participant.
Information for referrers
I'm a GP or specialist. How do I refer my patient to your outpatient service?
Address the referral to Dr Alister Ramachandran - Director of Pain Medicine.
Please provide as much information as possible to assist in triaging patients appropriately.
Our pain assessment pathway
All patients require a referral from their general practitioner (GP) or specialist. A valid referral is required to progress through to the next step.
All referrals must be submitted as an eReferral. Read more information on eReferrals or HealthPathways. Read more information on electronic referrals (eReferral) forms.
The assessment is a 'multidisciplinary assessment' which means you will be assessed by a physician, a physiotherapist and a psycholiogist.
The assessments last arounf 45-60 minutes with each team member. In most cases the assessment is done on the same day but occasionally, you may be asked to attend a second appointment to complete the assessment.
At assessment
- please bring your referral letter, specialist reports and all blood tests and scan reports
- if possible, bring along a 'significant other' who understands your pain
After the assessments are conducted, the entire pain team meet to discuss all the patients assessed on that clinic date.
A comprehensive pain management plan is then drafted, and your referring doctor will receive a copy of the plan in 2-3 weeks’ time.
We recommend you make an appointment with your GP in 2-3 weeks’ time to further discuss the pain management plan.
The model of care which works for persistent pain is a biopsychosocial model and will involve one or more of the following:
- medication changes
- physiotherapy treatment
- pschological treatment
- group pain program
- where appropriate, interventional pain management techniques
Contact us
Referals are to be submitted as an eReferral.
Address: Westmead Hospital Pain Management Centre, Hawkesbury Road & Darcy Road, Westmead NSW 2145
Contact number: (02) 8890 4597
Email: WSLHD-WestmeadChronicPainService@health.nsw.gov.au
Hours of service: Monday - Friday 9am - 3pm (excluding public holidays).