Industry briefing session - Chronic pain tender

An estimated 3.2 million adults currently live with chronic pain in Australia, with that number forecast to double over the next 30 years. Apart from the daily challenges of dealing with their condition, those living with chronic pain are at increased risk of depression, anxiety, poor self-esteem and social isolation.

North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network (NWMPHN) recognises the impact that chronic pain has on our community and the need for better services to support individuals to effectively manage their pain.

We are committing $1million to a new tender to fill the gap in chronic pain management in primary care settings, especially for those for whom the high intensity tertiary outpatient clinics may not be appropriate.

The tender seeks providers to help consumers manage their chronic pain in the community. This will give consumers a valuable new alternative to current pain management approaches that are delivered mainly through hospital-based outpatient clinics, where timely access can be a significant issue for many people.

The tender is for new services across two regions, north and western Melbourne, with $500,000 being committed to each. The services will involve teams of health professionals from different disciplines working with people who experience chronic pain. The focus will include helping people understand and self-manage their chronic pain where appropriate.