Helen Liddell, Consultant Pharmacist at Connect Health has been appointed as Primary Care Pain representative for the UK’s largest Clinical Pharmacy Community, the UKCPA (United Kingdom Clinical Pharmacists Association).
Echoing the ethos of the UKCPA of excellence, leadership and partnership, the role will involve the design, support and training for other pain pharmacists as well as developing competencies.
Sarah Carter, PhD, Chief Executive Officer, UK Clinical Pharmacy Association added
We are delighted that Helen Liddell has joined the UKCPA Pain Committee as the Primary Care Lead. We are passionate that clinical pharmacy is not only practiced within secondary care, but in primary care and other sectors too. It’s vital for UKCPA as an organisation for clinical pharmacists that practitioners in primary care are engaged with the work we do so that they can benefit and have a voice.
Helen Liddell commented
I’m delighted to have been chosen to represent primary care on the UKCPA and be able to influence policy and thinking, specifically around how to manage patients in pain in the community. The role will provide a platform to raise awareness and change the culture and thinking around pain management, allowing me to be at the forefront of policy decision making and support for those working in this important area.
Helen is a Senior Pharmacist with over 25 years of experience as a Head of Medicines Optimisation or equivalent for a variety of commissioning organisations. She has led and developed teams of pharmacists working in general practice and is a keen educator and experienced clinical trainer, achieving an MEd from the University of Leeds. Her current role is Pharmacist for Connect Health, a leading community provider of MSK, pain and rheumatology services and an HEE Ambassador for Clinical Pharmacists in General Practice.
The UKCPA is expanding their presence in primary care which is reflected by the additional roles reimbursement scheme, which is seeing a new workforce developing in primary care including many more clinical pharmacists.
Helen is passionate about pain management, commenting
Pain is very emotive – the demand for intervention and pain relief is high and the need for a health care professional to try and meet that demand can be an equal driver.
Her recent presentation at the Chronic Pain Management conference on the practicalities of helping patients in pain and tips for healthcare professionals was scored in the top four from hundreds of presentations.
Chronic pain affects one third to one half of the UK population and chronic primary pain – a pain for which there is no underlying identifiable cause – affects from 1%-6% of the population and is particularly difficult to treat. Helen recognises that a huge amount of pressure is mounting to raise awareness of the harm of overprescribing of pain medication which could be causing more harm than benefit.
See Helen’s session here:
Clinical Pharmacy Congress 13.5.21
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