"Inaccessible pain management clinic/course"

I suffer with Fibromyalgia and my GP referred me to the Pain Clinic run by NHS Lothian.  Was very disappointed when I attended the introductory session to find that all the courses are run at the Astley Ainslie. Its not an easy place to get to at the best of times and for people suffering with chronic pain its even worse.  To find that every course was run at that venue either starting at 9.30 or finishing at 4.30 was a real blow. For someone who lives on the West Lothian/North Lanarkshire border and either the morning or afternoon session would require probably three hours travel on top of the session itself.

The staff at the session could see my emotions and there was mention of perhaps going to the residential pain management course run by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde but there was no follow up call, no referral.

I have two main comments on my experience.  One being to run a respected pain management course is great but in the most inaccessible place in Edinburgh?  What about those of us in West, Mid and East Lothian?   Chronic pain is exhausting, you have to drag yourself around on a daily basis, and people so often don't understand. I was really keen to attend the course and try and gain some benefit but the effort of attending for 11 weeks would probably have me in my bed the rest of those 11 weeks and i HAVE to work to pay my bills.  Please please please consider running occasional courses in other places?

The second is that no-one followed up with me after the session, it was like, take it or leave it.  To have someone follow up with me after the session where I'd not signed up for any of the offered dates, would have meant a huge amount.  To explore other options, other referals that might be made, even if just to a local physio with an interest in Fibromyalgia...