title: The development of a post-operative pain service (1): An overview.
abstract: Slapping the patient on the face and saying: "It's all over" is a complete inversion of the truth. As far as the patient is concerned, it is just the beginning. This patient's view is supported by the report of a Working Party on Pain after Surgery which concluded that "the treatment of pain after surgery in British hospitals is inadequate and has not advanced significantly for many years". Yet failure to relieve pain is unacceptable not only for humanitarian reasons but also because unrelieved pain may inhibit optimal recovery. In their recommendations the Working Party placed a high priority on the establishment of an acute pain team in all acute general hospitals. This team would be responsible for education, research, audit, promoting pain assessment and ensuring adequate resources and safe practice.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ferguson
mesh_terms: D002985:Clinical Protocols; D006801:Humans; D009720:Nurse Clinicians / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009737:Nursing Records; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000451:nursing*; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016730:Program Development