Are GPs the only NHS professionals who can prescribe for pain?
I’ve got chronic pain & I’m on a couple of medications. I’ve been told that the only professionals who can prescribe and manage pain medications are GPs, but they’re awful at it in my experience. Are there no specialists who you can be referred to in this field? The pain services don’t use medication at all as far as I can tell.
I’ve seen many many different GPs in the last 2 years, and none of them seem confident or knowledgable enough to effectively prescribe pain meds. The methodology is pretty much like chucking paint at a wall and seeing what sticks. I’m positive that I could be living in much less pain with much less risk if I could see someone who actually has a comprehensive knowledge on how pain medications work.
I’ve asked a few professionals this question, all of whom said that no, GPs are the only option. But I’ve heard so much misinformation about who deals with what in the nhs that I’m not willing to trust it without more data.
Has anyone come across an NHS service or type of specialist that specialises in prescribing medications? Are my only options using the GPs or going private?