About Wye Sanctuary

Consultant-led pain care with time to understand the person behind the pain

Consultant-led pain care with time to understand the person behind the pain

Consultant-led pain care with time to understand the person behind the pain

Meet Dr Charlotte Small

Meet Dr Charlotte Small

Consultant in Pain Medicine & Anaesthetics
NHS Consultant • FRCA • PhD

My motivation

My motivation

I have dedicated my career to caring for people living with pain, first as an anaesthetist and then as a Consultant in Pain Medicine. Throughout that time, one thing has become increasingly clear: many people with persistent pain feel unheard, overwhelmed and unsure where to turn next.


Pain is rarely just about a scan result or a diagnosis. It affects every aspect of life, including sleep, work, relationships, confidence and emotional wellbeing. Too often, people find themselves moving from one appointment to another without anyone taking the time to understand the whole picture or helping them make sense of what they are experiencing.


That is why I created Wye Sanctuary.


I wanted to build a clinic where people have the time to tell their story, where they feel listened to and understood, and where decisions are made together. My aim is to combine the best available evidence with genuine compassion, creating personalised treatment plans that help people regain confidence, improve function and rediscover quality of life.

I have dedicated my career to caring for people living with pain, first as an anaesthetist and then as a Consultant in Pain Medicine. Throughout that time, one thing has become increasingly clear: many people with persistent pain feel unheard, overwhelmed and unsure where to turn next.


Pain is rarely just about a scan result or a diagnosis. It affects every aspect of life, including sleep, work, relationships, confidence and emotional wellbeing. Too often, people find themselves moving from one appointment to another without anyone taking the time to understand the whole picture or helping them make sense of what they are experiencing.


That is why I created Wye Sanctuary.

I wanted to build a clinic where people have the time to tell their story, where they feel listened to and understood, and where decisions are made together. My aim is to combine the best available evidence with genuine compassion, creating personalised treatment plans that help people regain confidence, improve function and rediscover quality of life.

I also wanted Wye Sanctuary to be part of the wider healthcare community around it. I have spent many years working alongside excellent clinicians and therapists across the region, and I believe good pain care is rarely delivered in isolation. Part of my motivation in creating Wye Sanctuary was to build a practice that could work collaboratively with others — sharing expertise, supporting existing therapeutic relationships and connecting people with the right help when they need it.

I am also interested in the many different ways people find their way towards living well with persistent pain. Alongside conventional medical care and rehabilitation, this might include integrative approaches, movement, time in nature, wild swimming or other activities that help restore confidence, connection and enjoyment. Not everything that helps comes from a prescription or a procedure, and Wye Sanctuary has space for those conversations too.

My approach

My approach

I believe that the best pain management begins by understanding the person behind the pain.


Every individual’s experience is unique, and there is rarely a single treatment that provides all the answers. My role is to help patients understand what may be contributing to their pain, explain the options available in clear and honest terms, and work together to develop a treatment plan that reflects their goals, priorities and lifestyle.


I combine careful assessment with evidence-based medical treatments, interventional procedures where appropriate, rehabilitation and self-management strategies. Equally important is recognising the emotional and psychological impact that persistent pain can have, ensuring that care remains compassionate, holistic and centred around the individual rather than simply the diagnosis.


Whether someone is living with longstanding back pain, fibromyalgia, pelvic pain, neuropathic pain or another complex pain condition, my aim is always the same: to listen carefully, provide clarity and develop a personalised plan that helps them move forward with confidence.


Persistent pain often benefits from more than one perspective. Where appropriate, I work with a network of trusted physical therapists, talking therapists and other healthcare professionals, bringing together different areas of expertise around the individual. If you already have practitioners you know and trust, I am very happy to work alongside them too — sharing advice and coordinating treatment so that your existing therapeutic relationships are supported rather than unnecessarily replaced.

I use a trauma-responsive approach to care. This means recognising that previous experiences — including experiences of healthcare — can influence how safe someone feels during a consultation, examination or procedure.

I don't assume that someone has experienced trauma, and you will never be expected to disclose experiences you would prefer to keep private. Instead, I aim to provide care that prioritises safety, choice, trust and control, explaining what I am doing and involving you in decisions about examination and treatment.

My approach has also been informed by my work with The Flying Child CIC, founded by Sophie Olson, an organisation working to improve understanding of childhood sexual abuse and the importance of trauma-responsive practice.

Being trauma-responsive does not mean assuming that pain is psychological or attributing physical symptoms to previous experiences. It means recognising that we may not know everything that has brought someone to the consultation, and providing thoughtful, respectful care accordingly.

You do not need to tell me your whole story in order to be treated with care.

Experience

Experience

I am a Consultant in Pain Medicine and Anaesthesia with extensive experience caring for people with acute and persistent pain. Alongside Wye Sanctuary, I work as an NHS Consultant, caring for people with a wide range of complex pain conditions while contributing to the development of modern, patient-centred pain services.


Following specialist training in Anaesthesia in the UK, I undertook advanced specialist training in Pain Medicine, with a particular focus on the assessment and treatment of complex and persistent pain. My practice brings together medical treatments, carefully selected interventions and rehabilitation, while recognising that pain rarely exists in isolation.


I completed a PhD focused on rehabilitation following critical illness and injury. My research explored the longer journey of recovery — including persistent symptoms, changes in function and confidence, and how people adapt and rebuild their lives following serious illness or injury. This continues to influence the way I think about rehabilitation and practise pain medicine today.


My background also includes service in the Royal Air Force. Between 2006 and 2010 I was part of the Critical Care Air Support Team (CCAST), repatriating critically injured service personnel to the UK and then continuing to care for them in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham following their return. Working with people recovering from major trauma gave me an early understanding of how pain can persist long after the initial injury, and shaped my interest in rehabilitation and supporting people whose lives have been changed by serious injury. I continue to work with service personnel and veterans in my NHS practice.


How we'll work together

How we’ll work together

Appointments are designed to feel accessible, calm and clear — whether you are attending in person or speaking with us virtually.

In-person appointments

Face-to-face consultations and procedures take place at Hereford Nuffield Hospital in a calm, welcoming environment designed to give you the time and space to talk through your concerns.

Virtual appointments

Many consultations can take place securely online, allowing you to access specialist care wherever you live in the UK without the need to travel.

Take the first step

Take the first step

If you’re living with persistent pain, Wye Sanctuary can help you make sense of what’s happening and explore a clear way forward.

Arrange a consultation

Helping people make sense of persistent pain.