Medicines Safety PSN: Reducing Harm from High Dose Opiates Learning Network

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Opioids are highly effective analgesics and, when used judiciously, are of great benefit to many people living with pain. However, when used for chronic pain, when the source of the long-term pain does not have a cause that can be treated, opioids do more harm than good, particularly when used at high doses.

The Faculty of Pain Medicine has advised that increasing opioid doses to more than 120mg morphine equivalent per day is unlikely to yield further benefit but exposes the patient to increased harm.

There are a growing number of people who are being supported to manage chronic pain and are awaiting diagnostics or surgery. Primary care prescribing data shows that there has been a 27% increase in the number of patients who are prescribed opioid analgesics for longer than 3 months, the limit recommended by The Faculty of Pain Medicine.

This increases the risk of long-term dependence which is strongly associated with increased mortality. It is estimated that for every 62 patients with chronic pain who can be supported with alternatives to long-term analgesia, one life can be saved. Unchecked, it is predicted that around 6,000 people a year will be hospitalised with adverse events whilst taking opioids for extended periods.

Join us for the opportunity to hear from Tony Jamieson the National Clinical Lead for Medicine Safety, who will describe National Medicine Safety Improvement Programme and it’s ambition to tackle the difficult issue of high dose opiates in chronic pain by supporting Integrated Care Systems to reduce avoidable harm associated with opioids which have been prescribed by the NHS.

Delegates will also have the opportunity to hear about the great work already happening in the North West Coast Region and to discuss how we shape better outcomes for patients by working collaboratively.

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Agenda
An agenda will be available shortly.

Joining the meeting
This meeting will take place on Teams and all delegates will receive a joining link in advance on the event.