Who We Are
Pain Management Consultants
The first appointment for a patient coming into the pain management service will be with the consultant. The role of these clinicians is to undertake a holistic assessment of the patient’s pain story and the impact that pain is having on that person’s life. Other factors such as medical problems and medications will be taken in to account.
The consultant will review relevant pain medications and make adjustments to the drug regime. We recognise that pain medicines can have a very limited effect and frequently cause side effects which have a negative effect on quality of life. It is not unusual for us to recommend that patients reduce some of their medicines and only continue the ones which are most effective for the individual.
More importantly, we will help patients to have a better understanding of their pain and some of the non-medication factors which can help to improve their quality of life.
Dr Nicholas Fraser
I have been a pain management consultant for 10 years. I am the lead consultant for Stockport Pain Management Services and the lead clinician for post surgical chronic pelvic pain management.
Dr David Crabtree
I joined Stepping Hill as a pain management consultant in September 2017. I have a keen interest in the application of biopsychosocial pain management using multidisciplinary techniques.
Dr Thomas Walton
I am a Consultant in Anaesthesia and Acute & Chronic Pain Management and joined the trust in 2019. I am the Clinical Lead for the Inpatient Pain Service, specialising in perioperative pain management, and am Faculty Tutor for Pain Medicine.
Chronic Pain Specialist Nurses
Esther Sieff
I have been qualified as a nurse since 1993 and have specialised in pain management for 9 years. A big part of my role is to help in educating and offering support in teaching people living with chronic pain to become better managers of their long term health condition. I provide this help either on an individual basis or in a group pain management. I also co-facilitate the Introduction to the Management of Pain Sessions (IMPS) and the online pain management programme (ePMP).
Pain Specialist Occupational Therapy
Lucy Zurich
I am a Pain Specialist Occupational Therapist and EMDR therapist. I have been working within pain services since 2017 and joined the Pain Management Service in 2019. I provide one to one appointments and the online pain management programme. I work to promote patient education and understanding of pain and self-management strategies. I also co-facilitate the Introduction to the Management of Pain Sessions (IMPS) and the online pain management programme (ePMP).
Pain Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy in pain management may be different to your experience of Physiotherapy elsewhere. Chronic pain means that the alarm system in your body has not switched off; however it is possible to dim down the pain and muscle tension that is caused as a result. Physiotherapy explores ways to help you develop skills and lifestyle changes to calm down this alarm system. This helps you to regain the confidence to return to doing many of the things you may have stopped doing, due to your pain experience.
Alex Clinton
I am a Chartered Physiotherapist and have specialised in persistent pain management for the last 6 years. I have been the Clinical Lead Physiotherapist for Stockport Pain Management Service since 2021 and work as part of the multi-disciplinary team providing support to help individuals understand their symptoms and increase their confidence in self-managing these going forwards. I am one of the lead facilitators for the Pain Management Programme (PMP) and also the Introduction to the Management of Pain Sessions (IMPS). I also assist Primary Care physiotherapy services in developing support for individuals with Fibromyalgia.
Pain Psychology
People with chronic pain say they often spend a lot of time trying to get rid of pain, in order to reduce the impact it has on their life. Most of the time this is not very successful and you may find yourself stuck unable to move on in life because of your pain.
In pain management psychology, we take a different approach. Instead of trying to get rid of pain, we start to tackle ways in which it has impacted on your life. We concentrate on giving you strategies and approaches to help you get back in touch with what is important to you in life and work towards living a full and meaningful life, despite your difficulties with pain. We can also help you to manage the emotional reaction to chronic pain, such as anxiety and depression and build your confidence which may have been lost as a result of your pain condition.
By understanding the psychological impact of pain you can better manage your pain and improve your overall quality of life.
Dr Paul Hood
Since first joining the NHS as an Assistant Psychologist back in 2005, I have had the privilege to work with a wide range of service users and healthcare teams across the North West of England. Over the past eight years as a Clinical Psychologist I have developed specialist interests in supporting people with physical health and neurological long-term conditions. My main role within the Pain Management Service is as Lead for our innovative multidisciplinary Pain Management Programme. I also provide clinical psychology consultation, supervision and audit/research to the pain service and input to other services across Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, regularly teach on regional clinical psychology doctorate courses, and am a Registered Practitioner Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council and Chartered Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society.
Pain Secretaries
Catherine Burton, Stephanie Burnett, Hannah Christey
I have worked within the Anaesthetic Department at Stepping Hill since 1999. Senior medical secretary for the Pain Clinic since 2001. Working as part of a team of three, we undertake all relevant areas of administration, booking of appointments and putting waiting lists together for the consultants. Keeping all areas of work in-house, helps the Pain Service run smoothly and efficiently.