Inpatient Service
This service was originally developed to monitor postoperative surgical patients with PCA (patient-controlled analgesia) and epidural infusions. This is still the backbone of the service but, over time, it has developed into an overall pain management service that covers both surgical and medical services. 
Due to need, the service is now involved in the care of chest trauma patients, in collaboration with the ICU and, to a lesser extent, palliative patients. 
The main goal is to assist in maintaining reasonable pain management for patients of Northland DHB in Whangarei Hospital. This should then ensure timely recovery and discharge.

Outpatient Service
All the pain management clinics are based at Whangarei Hospital and are held 1-2 times per week. Unfortunately, the demand is much greater than the available spaces and that is why waiting times can be up to a year, depending on clinic type and the problem referred for.

For information on the types of clinics run and their location, please see under "Services" below. Most clinics are presently held in the afternoon.

Staffing

• CNS Pain Management
• Relief Pain Management Nurse, 8:00am - 4:30pm Monday to Friday (not public holidays)
• PACU nurses cover post-op care in weekends, 9:00am - 11:00pm
• Anaesthetist, specialising in Pain Management
• Anaesthetic MOSS, with an interest in Pain Management
• Anaesthetists/Anaesthetic registrars out of hours
• Psychologist
• Psychiatrist
• Occupational Therapist
• Physiotherapist for Multidisciplinary Clinic.

Click here to view the patient information booklet for Northland DHB Pain Management Service

How do you receive an appointment?
Referrals should be from your GP or specialist. Once a referral is received by the Service, it is graded (triaged) on a 1-3 scale. 1 = urgent, 3 = least urgent.
A questionnaire will be posted to you and, on return of the questionnaire, your details will be processed and your name placed on the waiting list.
Appointments will be posted as they become available. If you change your address while waiting, please notify the Pain Management Service of changes i.e. phone contact / postal address. We will then find it easier to notify you of your appointment.