The Chronic Pain SLC was disestablished in December 2023. 

This Service Level Collaborative was set up in June 2022 to develop a new model of care for people living with chronic pain. 

The new model is being co-designed by people living with chronic pain – a long term condition which often starts as an injury, accident, or illness. They’ll work with primary care and specialist clinicians to develop clinical and social supports for people suffering from chronic pain in the community.  

The project will explore how to support the primary care and allied health workforce to deliver interventions within the community, so that specialist care is available for those who need it the most.

These evidence-based interventions include:

• screening and intervening early to manage pain holistically
• medication management to reduce the development of chronic pain
• the use of personalised care plans (PCPs) and acute plans (APs) to ensure continuity of care for this group of patients
• psychological and physical activity support
• developing capability within the primary care and allied health workforce, supported by specialist advice and expertise.

Developing resources this way means early support will be available for a wider cohort of patients, including for Māori and Pasifika communities where the long-term impacts associated with chronic pain are more prevalent.