British Pain Society

Current membership reflects the modern, multidisciplinary approach to pain management in its broadest sense with Anaesthesia, General Practice, Rheumatology, Nursing, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Psychology represented.

It also seeks to collaborate with similar organisations nationally and internationally within the healthcare arena and with non-governmental agencies Resources are available for both professionals and people living with pain through an informative website (www.britishpainsociety.org).

Dr. Andrew Diamond (former President) was instrumental in opening membership, allowing professionals who were not clinicians to be able to join and run the Society.

The concept spread to Europe post World War II, with the first of these being set up in London, Plymouth, and Liverpool in 1947.

Over the next two decades these evolved into more multidisciplinary clinics and by 1967 there were approximately 29 doctors (typically anaesthetists) working in this field in the United Kingdom.

Early members were mostly anaesthetists, but also included physicians such as Dr R Maher who pioneered the use of intrathecal phenol for cancer pain.

[5] In 2009, President Professor Paul Watson was asked to step down in relation to the controversy surrounding the disputed NICE guidelines for low back pain.

A petition was gathered by Dr Chris Wells (current EFIC president) in order to generate an extraordinary general meeting regarding a perceived presidential conflict of interest between the society and NICE.

"[1][6] In recognition of his exceptional contribution and dedication to the BPS, Professor Paul Watson was awarded the Honorary Membership of the British Pain Society at Annual Scientific Meeting held in May 2017.

At the time, Professor Sir Michael Bond is reported to have stated 'We deplore the blogs which vilified Paul and which were offensive to your Society and the profession of physiotherapy.

2010 also saw changes in UK government and a controversial reorganization of health service by Andrew Lansley followed, which saw a greater emphasis on primary care via the setting up of new Clinical Commissioning Groups.

The BPS worked in partnership with the Chronic Pain Policy Coalition, to devise questions for this snapshot survey of the nation's health.

In conjunction with the Faculty of Pain Medicine of the Royal College of Anaesthetists (FPMRCoA), the society is involved in encouraging the implementation of the EPM Lite teaching method to UK medical schools nationally.

Upcoming Events The World Health Assembly, part of the WHO, has declared September as Pain Awareness Month.