Conditions for providing care in healthcare are constantly changing. The demographic of the population is evolving, service institutions are expanding, and our knowledge of both disease and condition management is exponentially rising. Through the last decades, healthcare providers have become more efficient, the patients are spending less time in hospitals, and we have new and better management strategies for diseases. However, the costs for care provision are rising and will continue to rise unless we change fundamentally the way we are providing care.

This abstract offers an insight into current research activity exploring the management of chronic pain in Scotland, with discussion of initial findings.