A new kind of support for persistent pain launches in East Sussex

Today marks an important new chapter for people living with persistent musculoskeletal pain across East Sussex. 

From 2 November, Here starts delivering the East Sussex Community MSK Persistent Pain Service, bringing together clinical expertise, personalised care, community connection and lived experience. 

What matters to people with persistent pain 

Persistent pain can affect far more than physical health. It can influence confidence, work, relationships, emotional wellbeing and everyday life. That is why the new service is designed to look beyond symptoms and understand the whole person.   At the heart of the approach is a simple question: “What matters to you?” Support will be shaped around each person’s lived experience, strengths and goals, helping people to understand their pain, build confidence and find ways to live well alongside it.  

Connecting clinical care within everyday life 

The new service brings together clinical care, education, supported self-management and community connections. Its aim is to make sure people can access the right support, in the right place, at the right time.  

Who can access the service?  

The service is for people aged 16 and over living with persistent musculoskeletal pain that has lasted for more than three months and is significantly affecting daily life, wellbeing, work, education or participation in family and community life. It is intended for people who have had appropriate assessment, where serious underlying causes have been excluded and further medical intervention is unlikely to be the most helpful next step.  

To refer into the service, please check the Referrer page on the service website and download a referrer pack Referrers | East Sussex MSK Community Pain Service 

Today is the beginning 

While the service launches today, this is only the beginning of its development. The model is designed to grow with East Sussex communities, informed by feedback, local knowledge and the experience of people living with persistent pain.  Community-based support will continue to develop after launch. This includes Pain Cafés and peer support, alongside Pain Navigators, social prescribing and wider community connections.  

A vision for persistent pain support in East Sussex

Our vision is for people living with persistent pain in East Sussex to feel understood, supported and hopeful about the future.    Together with patients, healthcare professionals, community organisations, partners and people with lived experience, we want to help people find the right support close to home, feel connected to their community and build the confidence to do more of what matters to them.

Find out more at East Sussex MSK Community Pain Service