Guidance for tapering opioids for chronic non-cancer pain, including:

• Guidance on opioid tapering and discontinuation
• Opioid tapering resources
• Template letter and SMS to invite patients for opioid review

Below are the resource appendices from within the document for individual download.

This resource from the Health Innovation Network shares work across the Midlands to support improvements in opioid repeat prescribing processes.

This toolkit is a resource for general practices wishing to implement small changes that can reduce inappropriate opioid prescribing for chronic non-cancer pain. 

AOR is for people who are aged 16+years of age, have a long term illness or chronic medical condition, such as: diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, joint, muscle and mobility conditions, mental health problems, pulmonary or cardiovascular disease. Or have a Body Mass Index (BMI) above 30 (or 28 with co-morbidities), who are currently inactive i.e. doing less than 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week.

AOR helps people to increase their levels of physical activity in a safe and structured environment. The service provides health screening; advice and access to exercise, led by highly qualified exercise professionals.

If you feel like your patient may need help with their medication use, STAR (Support, Treatment, Advice and Recovery) provides a single front door to accessing drug and alcohol support services across Northamptonshire.

STAR can be used by clients, family members of those with drug and alcohol problems and professionals who work with clients with substance misuse issues.

Click the link above to refer a patient online. You can also call STAR on 0808 169 8512 between 9:30-4pm, Monday-Friday.

NHFT host a back pain management programme.

• See here for the HCP information about the programme, eligibility and referral process (link)
• See here for a patient information leaflet that can be shared with patients who are referred (link)

This is a 10-week self-management programme, eligibility as below:

• Chronic back pain for over 6 months,
• Open to engaging in a self-management approach,
• No other physical or mental health issues that would mean they were not able to engage in a group environment.

Patients can be referred in the following ways:

• Via GP system MSK referral pathways
• From Pain clinics or consultants
• Via referral letter from AHPs who don’t have access to GP systems.