Information for sufferers

Migraine Clinics

What is a migraine clinic?

A headache or migraine clinic specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of migraine and head pain. The clinics are often linked to a neurology department in a hospital and are directed by a consultant neurologist or doctor with a particular interest and expertise in migraine. A migraine clinic will be able to confirm if your attacks are migraine, suggest ways that you can manage your condition and review their current treatment.

Specialist clinics also provide a training ground for health professionals and a centre for clinical research.

Does everyone with migraine need to attend a clinic?

Most people with migraines who ask for a doctor’s advice are cared for solely by their GP. If you do not respond well to treatment or if your migraines are not well managed, further investigation may be needed.

How you can be referred to a migraine clinic

All NHS migraine clinics will usually require a letter of referral from a medical practitioner before they accept a new patient. This is most likely to be a GP or it could be a hospital doctor or other healthcare professional within the NHS. However, you can book an appointment without a GP referral at the City of London Migraine Clinic.

Finding a clinic

For a list of specialist migraine and headache health services in the UK that are known to The Migraine Trust please see our Migraine Clinics fact sheet (clinic details found towards the end). The list is divided into:

• Migraine and Headache Clinics - these are also shown on the map below.
• Children’s Migraine Clinics, attached to Departments of Neurology or Paediatrics
• Neurology Departments, with an interest in migraine and headache
• GPs with a special interest in headache and migraine (GPwSI)

Please note that it is the policy of The Migraine Trust to include only NHS clinics and any registered charity clinics in this list of migraine and headache health services. If you hear of any other migraine and headache services please do let us know.

How to prepare for a visit to a migraine clinic and what should to expect from your appointment

Detailed information on how you can prepare for a visit to a clinic and on what to expect from a clinic appointment can be found on our Migraine Clinics fact sheet.