Executive summary

Chronic pain or mamaenga roa, can cause significant challenges for both individuals and society. Chronic pain is pain that persists or recurs for more than three months. Living with chronic pain can make it hard to sleep, work and enjoy life. The aim of treatment of chronic pain is to reduce the impact of pain on life and day-to-day functioning for the person and their whānau.

Chronic pain is a significant and complex condition, which is highly prevalent in women, older people, Māori, and those with lower socio-economic status. Yet, services are inequitable and not resourced to holistically address whānau living with chronic pain in Aotearoa New Zealand.

A Model of Care ‘outlines best practice patient care delivery through the application of a set of service principles across identified clinical streams and patient flow’ (Waikato District Health Board, 2004). This document serves to provide a framework on which a clinical community can standardise their approach and unify their methods of intervention to deliver the best evidence-based care. The evaluation of Models of Care supports the review and integration of efficiencies and best practice within service delivery, that may otherwise go unrecognised.

In response to sector engagement the Model of Care Framework has been developed to facilitate and support sector stakeholders who engage with Manatū Hauora (the Ministry of Health) to review and consider how best to meet Aotearoa New Zealand’s health needs. The process has been initiated by the Chief Allied Health Professions Office and is implemented in partnership with the Chief Nursing Office and Chief Medical Office.

Workforce resource, population demographics and the timely provision of services often impact the provision of national specialist services which are low volume but complex in need. The Model of Care Framework takes an inclusive whole of population perspective in its approach and transcends existing systems to establish the most appropriate model of care for New Zealand. Led by the Expert Advisory Group, the process will identify and utilise knowledge gained from international best practice, national exemplars, and data modelling.

Clinically led service design working in partnership across the stakeholders and using strategic priorities and best practice, aligns to the Health and Disability System Review’s recommendations (2020). The consumer and population focus to service delivery and the transparent, quality assured process for the workforce and sector organisations provides rigour and clarity to process.

It is intended that the mamaenga roa: model of care for people living with chronic pain described in this document will address the current service issues and move towards prompt, appropriate and evidence-based delivery of pain care. This document builds on the previous workforce development, forecasts and strategic plans and the work of clinicians who have strived to provide services within existing infrastructure.