The Migraine Trust is disappointed by the Self Care Campaign report

16 March 2010

Commenting on the report entitled ‘Self care: an ethical imperative' published today by the Self Care Campaign group, Wendy Thomas, chief executive of The Migraine Trust said:

"We are extremely disappointed that the Self Care Campaign has categorised migraine as a ‘minor ailment’ in its report. Migraine is a debilitating and complex long-term neurological condition which affects 8 million people in the UK. The healthcare costs of migraine in the UK are high but they are not as high as the estimated £3 billion cost of absenteeism and lost productivity in the UK as a result of migraine. This latter cost could be reduced if more migraine sufferers visited their GP to get a formal diagnosis and advice on treatments and if GPs and other healthcare professionals received more formal training."

The Migraine Trust is concerned by the recommendation in the report for people to increase their level of ‘self care’ by taking over-the-counter (OTC) medication.

Some migraine sufferers take OTC medication when they could be taking more effective medication prescribed by their GP. Many migraine sufferers self-medicate too often which can result in them experiencing medication overuse headache as well as migraine.

Less than 50% of people who have migraine consult their GP to get a formal diagnosis. The Migraine Trust wants to encourage more sufferers to get a proper diagnosis so that they can get the most effective treatment to manage their condition.

The Migraine Trust also works to educate GPs and health professionals about migraine. Due to a lack of formal training in migraine and headache, even when migraine sufferers do present to their GP, they do not always receive the right diagnosis and treatment.

The Migraine Trust, as a member of Headache UK, supports the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Primary Headache Disorders (APPGPHD). The APPGPHD has produced a Report, launched today, entitled ‘Headache Disorders - not respected, not resourced.’ The Report highlights the seriousness of the condition and lack of education and research into headache disorders such as migraine. The Report can be downloaded here.

Mrs Patricia Smith, aged 63 years, a migraine sufferer from Devon said: "I have suffered from migraine with aura since my teens and as a result of my migraine I had to retire from my job on an ill health pension aged 57 years. Migraine is so often dismissed as a 'minor ailment’ by GPs and those who have never suffered an attack, that one often feels ashamed and sometimes afraid to mention it."

 

Update 19 March 2010

The Self Care Campaign has now issued an apology to The Migraine Trust for its recent report which described migraine as a "minor ailment".  The apology was made following the expression of our disappointment with the report and because of our supporters who contacted the Self Care Campaign expressing their own feelings.  Thank you to all of our supporters who have helped bring about this apology. The Self Care Campaign has issued the following statement:

 

Statement on Migraine from the Self Care Campaign

 

Following the notice on your website and emails from your members, we would like to reassure you that the advocates of the Self Care Campaign acknowledge all the points your members have raised, and it was really not our intention to cause migraineurs such distress.

 

The Self-Care campaign is not aimed at discouraging people from visiting their GP when they need to, but ensuring that people have the information and support to help them understand when they need to consult a healthcare professional. The campaign centres on the call for local NHS providers to prioritise services that support people to self-care. Self care does not mean that people are left to do everything on their own, but that health and social care professionals, peers and family members help to provide the support they need and ensure that people with migraines face a healthier future.

 

The use of the term 'minor ailment' is historic and short hand for symptoms that can be self treated, with or without an OTC medicine, and while some cases of migraine fall into this category we are very aware that there is a level of severity of migraine that do not but which require medical supervision and prescription only medication.  It is not our intention to include severe symptoms in the self care campaign. In addition, we believe that the condition requires a medical diagnosis to confirm it is migraine.

 

The campaign is also striving to gain recognition for the importance of self care to be supported by the right information and education for the public, healthcare professionals and school children.  We hope that these aims can be supported.

 

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