Unique Galway centre specialises in management of chronic pain

Galway’s Evidence Based Therapy Centre (EBTC) has launched a new specialised eight-week programme aimed at helping people with chronic pain management.

The centre, which is located on Fairgreen Road, has seen demand for its treatments soar since it first opened its doors in 2013. It is the only centre of its type in Connacht.

“Chronic pain is a huge issue in this country, and we’ve had a lot of interest in the programme so far. It’s often the case that sufferers are bounced from area to area within the health system as their pain gets worse,” the centre’s director Eoin Ó Conaire said.

“Here we use a combination of physical and psychological treatments to combat pain, and the latest studies have shown that multi-disciplinary programs like this can be extremely beneficial for people who are suffering from it,” he added.

The brains behind the operation are Eoin Ó Conaire, originally from Kildare, and his wife Róisín Joyce, from Galway.

Mr Ó Conaire and Ms Joyce established the centre upon returning from the United Kingdom, where they had been living since the 1990s.

Ms Joyce completed her BA in Psychology at NUI Galway in 1997. She received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Oxford University in 2005.

While working for the NHS, and studying for his Masters in Advancing Physiotherapy, Mr Ó Conaire became increasingly interested in ‘evidence-based healthcare’.

‘Evidence-based healthcare’ is a relatively young practice in the medical field – it first appeared about 25 years ago.

It is distinguishable from other treatment avenues in that it seeks collaboration between physician and patient.

In short, it encompasses three aspects:  firstly, it uses the best available research evidence to select a particular treatment for a particular ailment; secondly, it uses clinical expertise to identify each patient’s unique health state and to plan treatment accordingly; and finally, it takes client treatment-preferences into consideration.

“Typically, you go to the doctor, inform him of your problem and he recommends a treatment thereafter,” Mr Ó Conaire said.

“Here, we offer and supply the patient with evidence of all of the treatment and treatment-combinations available to them, and we help them make a decision about the best approach for them individually.

“And we find that a lot of our patients are surprised at the range of treatments available – they’ve not had their problems addressed in such depth before – and they’re more engaged as a result,” he added.

Last year, this Galway success story expanded their staff and moved into bigger premises, and they hope to continue to expand the centre in the future.

“Now we’ve got physiotherapy, clinical psychology, men and women’s health, occupational therapy, therapeutic yoga and chronic pain management facilities all accessible under one roof.

“Our philosophy is the same as ever: we want to provide patients with the best outcomes available and to improve their quality of life,” Mr Ó Conaire added.