Health professionals

Current policy issues

Migraine is the most prevalent neurological condition in the United Kingdom. It affects around 1 in 7 people. The World Health Organisation recognises migraine as being among the 20 most disabling lifetime conditions. Migraine costs the UK economy over £3 billion per year in lost working hours and doctor’s visits.

The Migraine Trust is an active member of Headache UK, a coalition of organisations representing the needs of people living with migraine and headache. Headache UK aims to achieve recognition of chronic headaches as a major public health problem, promote understanding of the significant impact headaches can have on people’s lives and to ensure speedy diagnosis and quality management for people who live with chronic headaches.

As a member of Headache UK, The Migraine Trust also supports the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Primary Headache Disorders (APPGPHD). The APPGPHD regularly holds briefings in the House of Commons with leading neurologists, academics and practicing clinicians giving evidence. In March 2010 the APPGPHD launched its first Report, ‘Headache Disorders – not respected, not resourced’.

Current policy issues for migraine include:

• Lack of public health funding
  • Migraine is the least publicly funded neurological condition particularly relative to its economic impact. There is insufficient funding to provide specialist care to sufferers.
• Research into migraine is declining/dwindling
  • The UK is likely to fall even further behind the USA and the rest of Europe.
  • This will have a negative impact on pharmaceutical interest.
• Children with migraine
  • Issues in education.
• Limited numbers of healthcare professionals with an interest in migraine and headache
  • Need to develop more GPs with Special Interest in Headache
  • Specialist Headache nurses – currently only 12 and none in Northern Ireland.
  • Specialist migraine clinic coverage is patchy in many parts of the United Kingdom.
• Training of health professionals
  • Medical students receive limited training on disabling primary headache and nurses may receive none.

BASH Intermediate Care Guidance

The British Association for the Study of Headache (BASH) have written a paper that offers support to PCTs who are considering setting up a GPwSI (General Practitioner with Special Interest) service in headache. It is written from the perspective of GPs who have experience in delivering such a service. The paper is accessible via the BASH website.