'Kairos' means: 'an opportune moment for change'. Kairos Rehabilitation concentrates on helping those who are suffering persistent pain and other hard to treat conditons, adults as well as children. Patients are encouraged and supported to play a more active role than usual in their recovery including steps in their personal development. Social, cultural and occupational opportunities add to the therapeutic effect.
Kairos' therapeutic methods are based on 'anthroposophic' medical concepts developed by Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) and employed in some NHS GP practices e.g. Blackthorn Trust in Maidstone.
Aims of the approach in dealing with pain
- To reduce the severity of symptoms including insomnia, exhaustion, anxiety and depression thereby restoring energy and vitality
- To reduce dependence on medication
- To improve personal confidence, self-esteem & sense of purpose
- To tackle social difficulties, loneliness & isolation
- To assisit with work & financial problems: job loss, debt & benefit claims
Eligibility and referral
criteria
The Kairos service is available on the NHS to patients who are registered with a Greenwich GP. Patients who meet the
referral criteria below, and who are aged 18 years or over, can be referred from their GP practice to the Circle Greenwich MSK service, requesting onward referral to Kairos for Pain
Management.
KAIROS REFERRAL CRITERIA
- Pain of over 2 years duration
- All other pain management options have been tried and failed or considered inappropriate.
- Patients to have been fully examined and investigated.
- Not attending or waiting to attend any other pain clinic or musculoskeletal service who could manage
pain
- Patients aware of need to attend blocks of weekly treatments on site. Able to make that
possible.
- RE-REFERRALS
- Application not permitted within one year of discharge from KRT
- Maximum permitted referrals = 3 for the same complaint.
As a GP you will want to consider the following:
HOSPITAL PAIN MANAGEMENT PROGAMMES employ a more
cognitive psychological approach than Kairos, usually with physiotherapy and occupational therapy. These programmes works best when the patient is able to listen, think and follow instructions, as
well as have enough energy to bring about change.
HOSPITAL PAIN
CLINICS. Their
specialists bring particular experience, skills and personal talents to benefit the patient. They can clarify and refine a diagnosis, review and improve medication. They know the indications and can
give worthwhile injections.
The KAIROS APPROACH steers away from the cognitive emphasis. It uses gentle bodily-oriented therapies and aims for reduction in medication. It is often appropriate where chronic pain has led to exhaustion and complications, especially mental health problems. When life has been disrupted, there are crises to contend with and/or hope has been lost, Kairos referral is likely to be appropriate.
Kairos is only available on the NHS to Greenwich patients. However, patients from other areas can access the Kairos
Service on a private basis, they will be asked to contribute towards the cost of their treatment. We are keen to make our service available according to need, and we offer concessions wherever
possible.
To discuss if your complaint is likely to respond to our methods, please give us a call on 07712810108
Children
Conditions include headaches, abdominal pain, constipation, irritable bowel and functional disorders relating to attention deficit and autistic spectrum disorders. Sleep disturbances, speech problems, anxiety and other more developmental difficulties are also known to respond to the approach.
The child should be assessed by an appropriate specialist before coming to Kairos.
Please see 'who we work with' for further details.
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