Conference programme

Keynote 1:
Developments in effective self-management for chronic pain

Professor Roger Knaggs President of the British Pain Society and Diarmuid Denneny of Liminal Health and Well Being and Live Well with Pain will be reviewing how supported self-management is gaining momentum as the preferred approach in pain management.

Keynote 2:
Optimising medicines using the GOTT study model

In 2021 NICE accepted that current chronic pain medications have limited use, and can in fact carry serious safety concerns. Yet in 2025 reducing opioid prescriptions remains a huge challenge.

A major milestone in meeting that challenge was achieved by GOTT, a research project carried out at a GP practice in one of the UK’s most deprived neighbourhoods.

At the start of the study, the practice had one of the country’s highest rates of prescribing opioids, and clinicians had little confidence in delivering
pain management programmes to their patients.

After clinicians adopted the GOTT, confidence was significantly raised and the practice brought high dose opioid prescriptions down to zero.

It also halved major opioid and gabapentinoid prescriptions – bringing the GP practice well below the national average.

Dr Frances Cole and Professor Paul Chazot oversaw the design and analysis of the GOTT project.

Join them as they explain how changing the support given to people with pain can lead to lasting reductions in prescribing.

Keynote 3:
Integrating effective self-management in services and communities

Owen Hughes and Dr Laura Hissey will explain how self-management strategies can be successfully integrated into services to bring meaningful change to people living with pain. Two experts with a wealth of experience. Join them to learn more.

The importance of nutrition in managing chronic pain

Speaker: Deepak Ravindran, The Pain Free Mindset

Lived experience speaker: Louise Trewern

Creative pain management skills

Speakers: Rosie Cruickshank, St Thomas’ Hospital and Balbir Singh, Balbir Singh Dance Company

Lived experience speaker: Su Madden

Flippin’ Pain: a public health approach to persistent pain – why do we need it and what’s the impact?

Speaker: Cormac Ryan, Professor of Rehabilitation, Teesside University

Lived experience speaker: Tim Atkinson

Effective medicines optimisation

Speaker: Simon Gill, Pharmacist, Betsi Cadwaladr UHB

Lived experience speaker: Louise Trewern

Having engaging conversations; moving to fewer pills and more skills

Speaker: Ollie Hart, Peak Health Coaching

Lived experience speaker: Sue Crisfield

Empowering people to become active self-managers

Speaker: Patrick Hill and Rachel Stovell, Live Well with Pain

Lived experience speaker: Mark Agathangelou

Delivery of joined up community-based care including pain cafes

Speakers: Paula Whitehurst, Kate Hardiman and Luke Wilkinson, Joined Up Care Derbyshire

Lived experience speaker: Sue Crisfield

Culturally adapted pain education workshops in communities

Speakers: Kerry Page and Shahzad Jamil, Rethinking Pain Service (Bradford)

Lived experience speaker: Tim Atkinson

A 10 Footsteps informed Pain Management
programme

Speakers: Meghan Linscott and Jo Thorpe, University Hospitals Birmingham

Lived experience speaker: Mark Agathangelou