John O’Hanlon’s Profile
Dr John O’Hanlon has been a Consultant in Pain Management since February 1997. Dr O’Hanlon undertook his postgraduate training in the Northern Ireland Anaesthetic Training Scheme and further Pain Management training in the Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney Australia.
“I believe that the management of persistent pain should use the biopsychosocial model. The patient is guided to identify the impact of the pain on their life and the strategies, good and bad, that they have developed to control their pain. Once these strategies are identified, the patient is assisted in helping themselves manage their pain. This assistance may come in the form of injection therapies such as epidural injections for back pain, genicular nerve blocks for knee pain or the use of pain management programmes.”
Throughout his time as a consultant he has watched the transition of pain management move from purely medical to a more holistic approach.
Pain Management has developed since his postgraduate training. The training he received in Northern Ireland and Australia had a very medical focus and emphasis relying on medication, injections and some input form the Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) such as physiotherapy. As his experience developed he became aware that despite ongoing medical interventions, chronic pain patients continued to report ongoing and worsening chronic pain.
The understanding of what chronic pain is has also changed with new research focusing on the function of the Central Nervous System. This research has made Dr. O’Hanlon’s understanding of chronic pain much better and an understanding as to why medical interventions on their own do not provide the expected or desired outcome of pain relief.
As a result of this increased knowledge and understanding he has changed his focus from pain relief to helping patients with their pain management.
Chronic pain is a continuous complex problem that challenges patients in many different ways. I have come to realise that medical interventions alone cannot provide adequate and sustained pain management.
In his clinic he aims to improve patient’s understanding of their pain, to update patents on the different direct and indirect influences on their pain and to provide guidance in how pain can be managed. This approach is evidence based and works within the national guidelines for chronic pain management.
In order to achieve this he directs patient towards the workbooks he uses, referral to NHS pain management programmes and ongoing support from Dr. O’Hanlon. He has learned in 25 years working in the pain clinic that chronic pain is not simple but is a complex biopsychosocial condition that requires on going management.
Dr O’Hanlon is specialty lead for pain services in the Belfast Trust, he was Lead Consultant for pain medicine in the Belfast Trust in December 2010 and Convenor Northern Ireland Pain Society since March 2012.
He was awarded a Fellowship of the Faculty of Pain Medicine from the College of Anaesthetists in Ireland in November 2009 and obtained a Masters in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in December 2010 from QUB.
Current NHS Posts
Pain Clinic Consultant – Belfast City Hospital.
