Provision of training in chronic pain management for specialst registrars in the United Kingdom

Abstract

A study published in 1992 highlighted wide variations in the provision of training in pain management. In this survey, data were collected from both pain clinicians and Programme Directors of the Schools of Anaesthesia to see if there had been any changes in training patterns since the introduction of the Calman training scheme. There did not seem to be a uniform improvement in the provision of training in pain management for Specialist Registrars and many may reach their Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training without a basic knowledge of chronic pain. It is thought that at the present time there will be few Specialist Registrars with sufficient training to take up consultant posts in pain management unless they compete for the much sought after, and often not fully funded, pain fellowships outside their rotations.