Clinical areas caring for patients receiving analgesic techniques which may result in cardiovascular, respiratory or neurological impairment should have appropriate facilities and adequately trained staff to provide appropriate monitoring.48
Drugs and equipment for the management of the complications associated with analgesic techniques should be readily available.48
There should be adequate office space, informatics and administrative support for the IPS.
There should be appropriate storage facilities for analgesic devices and drugs.
The standard of care for neonates, infants, children and young people should be the same as that for adults, with specific arrangements made for the management of pain in neonates, infants, children and young people.49
The service should be delivered by an appropriately trained team, with specific skills in paediatric pain management and paediatric anaesthesia. Paediatric pain management services may be provided by paediatricians or anaesthetists.
All tertiary paediatric centres should have access to paediatric chronic pain services to assist in managing complex cases. Other centres should develop a network to provide access to paediatric chronic pain services for advice and guidance.
Specialist acute pain management advice and intervention should be available in the emergency department (ED).
Inpatient pain services should also provide assistance in developing management plans for groups or individuals who attend ED frequently with pain. This should be in the context of a wider multidisciplinary team including chronic pain services, primary care and clinical psychology.
Inpatient pain services should provide education delivered by appropriately trained individuals.56 Training should include the recognition, assessment and treatment of pain, this includes using a management plan.
