IntroductionPain is not always curable but affects the lives of millions of people. This essay examines the Essence of Care 2010: benchmarks for pain prevention and management (DH, 2010). Particular reflection on a practical knowledge of its implementation and its relevance to nursing practice. It is part of the wider Essence of Care policy, which includes all the latest criteria developed since its launch in 2001. It has been produced specifically to improve the localized quality of healthcare delivery. This paper was chosen because I have a particular interest in palliative care and people with chronic pain. Pain affects the quality of life of a large number of people, particularly those at the end of life. This essay will examine the definition of what social policy is and provide a brief overview of the selected policy. Examine the need for the policy, supporting statistical evidence. Then there are the pressure groups who lobby and who may have had influence on the development of policy. Included are the goals and objectives stated in the policy and then analyzing a particular aspect of the policy. How patient care and delivery of care by nurses is improved by this policy. Practically considering the challenges of implementing policy in nursing practice. With delivery and evaluation methods.BodySo, what is social policy? David Gill is often considered one of the most authoritative authors on the subject (1973 cited by Lavalette and Pratt 1997). For Gill, it was “the analysis of access to resources that enhance and sustain life.” In his book “Social Policy” (Titmuss, 1974), Timuss suggested that “politics” is action-oriented and problem-posing. from paper......n.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/269185/003542.pdf [last accessed 6/5/2013]Titmuss, R. (1974) Social Policy. London: Unwin Hymen Publishers. Toofany, S. (2005) Nurses and health policy. Nursing management:(12)3:pp. 26-30 Winfield, H., Katsikitis, M., Hart, L. and Rounsefell, B. (1989). Postoperative pain experiences: relevant attitudes of patients and staff. [online] 34(5): pp.543-552. Available at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T8V-45WYV7R-7G&_user=10&_coverDate=12%2F31%2F1990&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=gateway&_origin=gateway&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_acct=C0000502 21 &_version= 1&_urlVersion =0&_userid=10&md5=35e6b5e8c8f803b487b35d4ae3b06cef&searchtype=a[ [accessed 8/5/2013]World Health Organization (WHO)(2011). WHO pain scale. [online] Available at: http://www.who.int/cancer/palliative/painladder/en/. [Accessed 7/5/2013].