Chronic pain service

West Sussex Chronic Pain Service, St Richard’s Hospital

The Paediatric Chronic Pain Service at St Richard’s Hospital is a specialist multidisciplinary service for children and young people experiencing chronic musculoskeletal pain problems.

It was commissioned to provide a comprehensive local assessment and treatment service. 

Who is the service for

To be eligible for the service you need to:

• be under the age of 18 years old
• have chronic musculoskeletal pain (of more than six weeks duration) or at the earliest stage with features of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
• be a resident in West Sussex or registered with a West Sussex GP. Please contact us regarding referrals for out of area children.

Initial assessment

Children and their parents/carers are offered an initial assessment in clinic with the whole team. 

We offer hour-long appointments to review medical history, medication and investigations, and conduct a thorough physical examination together with an assessment of day-to-day functioning at home and at school, college or work. 

Treatment

A co-ordinated treatment and rehabilitation programme is offered to those children who need focused therapeutic intervention.

Each programme is individual and is likely to involve a combination of:

• education regarding chronic pain
• medication
• physiotherapy
• psychological therapies and support
• school liaison

This support can be provided in clinic or at home.

Meet the team

The chronic pain service is run by a multidisciplinary team including: 

• Dr Tim Taylor, Consultant Paediatrician, St Richard’s Hospital
• Dr Jon Rabbs, Consultant Paediatrician, Worthing Hospital
• Ros Foulds, Consultant Psychologist / Service Manager
• Becca Pepper, Physiotherapist
• Rhiannon Joslin, Physiotherapist
• Paula Stiles, Team Secretary

Where we are

The children’s chronic pain service is on the first floor of St Richard’s Hospital in the Women and Children’s block.

Contact us