Jo Brown
Executive Director, British Pain Society
Pain affects 28 million people in the UK1 and can affect every part of life. Here, three voices show how research, healthcare and lived experience drive change together.
The British Pain Society’s (BPS) new strategy is championing care that’s multidisciplinary, research-informed and person-centred.
Pain science meets lived experience
Pain research must be shaped by those it aims to help. Dr Kirsty Bannister, Associate Professor of Pain Neuroscience, says: “Basic science is vital to understanding the mechanisms of pain, such as how the nervous system encodes and maintains chronic pain. In Parkinson’s disease, for example, linking sensory dysfunction to neurodegeneration allows us to target therapies more effectively, but scientists can’t operate in isolation. Involving people affected by pain helps us shape research questions that reflect real-life concerns. Only by connecting pre-clinical science with patient experience can we build the future of personalised pain care.”
Women’s pain gap
Katy Vincent, Professor of Gynaecological Pain, adds: “Pain is staggeringly common in women. Yet, historically, women’s pain has been dismissed or seen as psychogenic. More than a third of teenage girls report moderate or severe period pain, and up to half of post-menopausal women develop painful osteoarthritis. Biological differences between sexes mean we need to understand what treatments work for women and ensure early access. Recognising and addressing this gap is crucial — not only for the individual, but for families, the workforce and wider society.”
The BPS validates lived experience
by giving us a voice in shaping
pain management.
Equity-driven pain care reform
Amirah Ashouri, member of BPS’ Expert Patient and Carer Committee, puts this all into context: “The BPS validates lived experience by giving us a voice in shaping pain management. Having chronic pain since childhood, I’ve experienced the limitations of care focused just on symptoms. A diagnosis of fibromyalgia in my 20s led to holistic, person-centred NHS care that empowered me to reclaim quality of life. Yet, access to such support remains inconsistent. By working alongside a wide range of healthcare professionals, we’re shifting thinking, promoting equity and driving meaningful change.”
Our strategy recognises pain as a serious public health issue and commits to equity, evidence and empathy, plus a vision for care that no one living with pain should feel unseen or unsupported.
Learn more: britishpainsociety.org/about/strategy
[1] Fayaz A et al., 2016. Prevalence of chronic pain in the UK: a systematic review and meta-analysis of population studies.
