Pain Management Unit outpatient services at Central Adelaide

The CALHN Pain Management Unit (PMU) works with people experiencing persistent pain to help improve function and increase quality of life.

Pain which continues longer than three months is defined as persistent or chronic pain. Sometimes this pain begins with an acute injury, but does not resolve as expected; sometimes it is unclear how persistent pain starts.

Within the PMU, a team of varied health professionals work together to achieve the best outcome, providing support, education and therapy to patients that addresses all aspects of pain.

During your time at the PMU you may receive input from:

  • Doctors specialising in pain medicine
  • Nurses
  • Physiotherapists
  • Psychiatrists
  • Psychologists

Services

The Pain Management Unit is a patient-centred service that encourages active participation and shared decision-making with patients, their families, and carers.

We work collaboratively with you to help regain your quality of life, improve your function, and achieve pain-related goals that are important to you.

We provide information on how to manage a pain condition to the best of current knowledge, regardless of whether a diagnosis has or has not been made. Treatment may involve individual appointments and/or group programs where appropriate.

Our services include:

  • an outpatient service for metropolitan patients
  • an inpatient consultation service
  • provisions to patients in rural and remote areas, including regular visits to some country locations
  • medical procedures can be included in a patient’s treatment plan if needed
  • active treatments from physiotherapy and psychology
  • specific medical treatments can also be provided for people with cancer pain.

We do not offer:

  • second opinions for opioid prescription. This can be sought from another GP or specialist
  • we offer medication advice to general practitioners but do not prescribe medications
  • referral for medicinal cannabis prescription. The PMU supports the Faculty of Pain Medicine position on medicinal cannabis
  • second opinions for patients who have previously been managed by other Pain Management Units. These patients should be re-referred to the original Pain Management Unit
  • due to the complexity of pain presentations and the need to engage with general practitioners, referrals for outpatient appointments from the Emergency Department will not usually be accepted
  • referral exclusively for provision of MLR, NDIS and DSP reports.

We strongly encourage patients insured with a third-party claim to seek care in the private sector.

Contact details and location

Level 2B
North-East building
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital
28 Woodville Rd, Woodville South
SA 5011

Telephone: (08) 8222 7826 
Email: CALHNPainUnit@sa.gov.au