Chronic Pain And Opioids

EDM number 555 in 2016-17, proposed by John Cryer on 18/10/2016.
Categorised under the topics of Diseases, Health education and preventive medicine and Health services.

That this House notes the growing concern from medical professionals and clinical experts regarding the lack of comprehensive care for people suffering from chronic pain and, in some cases, the harmful and unhelpful purchases of repeated over-the-counter opioids to treat them; observes that 40 per cent of British adults surveyed by the Chronic Pain Policy Coalition have taken opioid painkillers consecutively for three days or longer, despite NICE guidelines recommending that they should be taken for three days as a maximum; understands that there is a lack of awareness regarding the addictive quality of opioids, alternative treatments and the effect on mental health of poorly-managed chronic pain, including depression and anxiety; and calls on the Government to work with GPs, clinical commissioning groups and key stakeholder groups to increase the number of people receiving annual checks as well as care plans which will reduce avoidable GP appointments, visits to accident and emergency departments and prescription charges.

This motion has been signed by a total of 22 MPs.