We have a team of specialist pain nurses that review and offer specialist advice to patients with pain issues, who require additional support. We see patients with acute pain, cancer pain, and chronic pain issues as well as pain after surgery.

The team sees all post-operative patients that require specialist pain control techniques such as:

• Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA) – this is an intra-venous pump that the patient can control to give themselves small doses of pain killing drugs. This avoids any delays in drug administration and gives patients autonomy to control their own pain.
• Epidurals – these are tubes inserted into the epidural space in the operating theatre to provide pain relief during and after surgery for more complex cases. Drugs are infused to reduce the sensation of pain.
• Nerve Catheters – these are tubes inserted along the path of a nerve to reduce pain in a limb (arm or leg). Local anaesthetic is infused or given as intermittent boluses.

As well as daily nurse cover, we also provide regular consultant ward rounds at both Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells hospitals. These are particularly to help with more complex patients who often have pre-existing pain issues.

The team also works closely with colleagues in the Trust Pharmacy department and with medical and nursing colleagues on the ward, to ensure that the techniques employed to manage acute pain are effective and appropriate for the individual patient.