{"id":203333,"date":"2025-06-21T20:00:14","date_gmt":"2025-06-21T20:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/203333\/"},"modified":"2025-06-21T20:00:14","modified_gmt":"2025-06-21T20:00:14","slug":"better-days-programme-brings-hope-to-thousands-living-with-chronic-pain-in-northern-ireland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/203333\/","title":{"rendered":"Better days Programme brings hope to thousands living with chronic pain in Northern Ireland"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Amanda<\/p>\n

Amanda McAuley and Breige Conway<\/p>\n

More than 2,000 people suffering from chronic pain have found new ways to live better lives thanks to the Better Days Pain Support programme \u2014 a pioneering community-led initiative backed by the Department of Health and celebrated at Stormont earlier this month.<\/p>\n

Speaking at the event on Tuesday 3 June, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt<\/strong> praised the programme\u2019s impact, describing it as \u201ca lifeline to many who live with chronic pain across Northern Ireland.\u201d <\/p>\n

He continued, \u201cThe programme is an excellent example of an innovative, community-driven solution to a complex health challenge and I want to thank those involved in delivering it. This work is invaluable and deeply appreciated.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Health<\/p>\n

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt<\/p>\n

A growing public health issue<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chronic pain affects an estimated 500,000 people across Northern Ireland, often leading to job loss, social isolation, mental health difficulties, and dependency on powerful pain medications such as opioids. <\/p>\n

In response, the Better Days initiative has taken a new, human-centred approach by focusing on education, peer support, and lifestyle strategies, rather than purely clinical solutions.<\/p>\n

A community-based model that works<\/strong><\/p>\n

Delivered through Healthy Living Centres across the region and coordinated by the Healthy Living Centre Alliance (HLCA), the Better Days programme offers practical tools and emotional support for people living with persistent pain. <\/p>\n

In the Northern Health and Social Care Trust area<\/strong>, it is delivered by the Northern Area Community Network<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Tony<\/p>\n

Tony Doherty, Regional Coordinator for HLCA<\/p>\n

Tony Doherty, Regional Coordinator for HLCA<\/strong>, said: <\/p>\n

\u201cWe are very proud of the Better Days programme. Its early success has been recognised in a major NHS Pharmacy award in 2021. <\/p>\n

\u201cOur programme, co-designed over five years with pain patients, begins with the fact that their pain is highly unlikely to be cured but that they can learn to live better with their pain. For many, this is the lightbulb moment of revelation and acceptance.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile the results of the pilot programmes were very interesting, with many participants providing glowing accounts of their progress and returning each week for more information, the long-term development of Better Days has simply reinforced for us how well the programme is received regardless of when or where it is delivered.\u201d<\/p>\n

The programme is supported through a five-year contract with the Strategic Planning and Performance Group (SPPG), following collaboration with the Public Health Agency dating back to 2017.<\/p>\n

Steering group and academic expertise<\/strong><\/p>\n

The programme is overseen by a multidisciplinary Steering Group, including academics and clinicians such as Professor Kevin Vowles from Queen\u2019s University Belfast and retired pain consultant Dr Pamela Bell. Both experts attended the Stormont event, emphasising the scientific rigour and clinical insight guiding the initiative.<\/p>\n

Delivered where it\u2019s needed most<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of the most impactful aspects of Better Days is its accessibility. The programme is almost exclusively delivered in communities experiencing high levels of social deprivation \u2013 areas where health inequalities are often most acute. Its community development approach, rarely applied in the field of pain management, sets it apart from traditional treatment models.<\/p>\n

Real impact \u2013 real voices<\/strong><\/p>\n

Participants have consistently praised the programme, offering heartfelt feedback that illustrates its life-changing effects:<\/p>\n

\u201cIt increased the knowledge on how to cope with the pain in a more positive way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cVery informative, helped me understand the role of pain medication and how best to use it\u2026 also learned about other coping techniques.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLoved the programme and the company. I get very lonely as I live alone. This programme has made me feel less alone with people who understand my pain.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBrilliant, really enjoyed it. Helped \u2013 it was a godsend. I still do the exercises \u2013 helps a bit to relieve the pain.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cVery, very well organised programme. Friendly, approachable facilitators and guest speakers. Very educational and reassuring.\u201d<\/p>\n

These testimonials highlight not only the medical insights offered through Better Days, but also the emotional and social connection it fosters among participants.<\/p>\n

Next steps<\/strong><\/p>\n

With continued support from the Department of Health and the wider health sector, the Better Days Pain Support programme looks set to expand its reach and influence. It stands as a model for how community health solutions can successfully address entrenched public health challenges \u2014 especially for conditions where long-term medical cures remain elusive.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Amanda McAuley and Breige Conway More than 2,000 people suffering from chronic pain have found new ways to…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":203334,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5011],"tags":[9658,9660,9661,9656,9659,1144,9657,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-203333","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-northern-ireland","8":"tag-ballymena-news","9":"tag-causeway-coast-and-glens","10":"tag-county-antrim","11":"tag-love-ballymena","12":"tag-mid-and-east-antrim","13":"tag-northern-ireland","14":"tag-northern-ireland-news","15":"tag-uk","16":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114723136064355422","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/203333","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=203333"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/203333\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/203334"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=203333"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=203333"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=203333"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}