New research highlights devastating financial and mental health impact of long waits to access migraine care
New research from The Migraine Trust reveals the financial and mental health impact of long waits for migraine care and treatment.
- Two-thirds say it took more than five years before they were able to access a satisfactory treatment
- Almost a third of people with migraine report challenges accessing a GP appointment and almost three quarters on a neurology waiting list have been on it for 5+ months
- A third have turned to private healthcare for their migraine and a quarter reported that they had experienced financial difficulties as a result
- Three quarters of people with migraine report a negative impact on mental health but only 10% have been offered mental health support through the NHS
Migraine is a complex neurological condition, characterised by migraine attacks, affecting 10 million – or one in seven – adults in the UK. Symptoms include headache, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, sound or smell, and fatigue.
The report, The cost of waiting: how the migraine treatment gap is failing patients, is based on a survey of over 1,500 adults with migraine and highlights their challenges in navigating the healthcare system.
Finding an effective treatment can take years
Less than half of respondents (38%) are satisfied with their current migraine treatment, with delays in accessing support and finding an effective treatment a major reason. Almost a third (29%) report challenges accessing a GP appointment, and almost three quarters (69%) of those waiting to see a neurologist have been waiting more than five months, rising to one year for almost a third (29%).
Finding an effective treatment can take years. Among respondents who had found a satisfactory migraine treatment, almost two thirds (62%) had spent more than five years trying. Just over a third (38%) had tried seven or more treatments before finding one they were satisfied with, while many surveyed had yet to find a treatment that helped.
This is despite major treatment advances in recent years. Medications developed specifically for migraine, including Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and gepants, are now available in the UK. Studies indicate these treatments are more effective in reducing frequency of migraine days and associated with reduced risk of side effects, compared to other preventive migraine medications.
Impacts on mental health and wellbeing
Delays in accessing effective migraine treatment can have far-reaching consequences. A third (36%) have turned to private healthcare for migraine and a quarter (23%) reported financial difficulties as a result. Over two thirds (69%) said trying to find a satisfactory treatment made it harder to work or study, with many reporting reduced hours, job loss or being unable to work.
People with migraine also reported a strain on their mental health and wellbeing. Three quarters (76%) said trying to find a satisfactory treatment had negatively affected their mental health or mood, yet only one in 10 (10%) had been offered mental health support through the NHS.
“Migraine is not ‘just a headache’. It is a complex neurological condition affecting millions of people in the UK and can have a profound impact on every part of life. As our research shows, people with migraine face long delays and fragmented care, despite recent developments and new treatments designed specifically for migraine.
“No one should be pushed into financial hardship, poor mental health or out of work because they cannot get timely, effective migraine care and treatment. People with migraine deserve better. We are calling on local and national NHS leaders and policymakers to urgently improve clinician understanding, reduce waiting times, strengthen mental health support and ensure effective migraine treatments are available consistently and promptly to everyone who needs them.”
“I lost years of my life waiting to be taken seriously by medical professionals and waiting to access migraine-specific treatments. In my own experience, I knew for several years that I needed access to migraine-specific treatment, but I was required to try multiple medications before I could qualify for a neurology referral. During that time, I had to trial at least three different medications, often while managing the cumulative effects of side effects and medication changes. Constantly starting, increasing, combining, and then discontinuing medications is exhausting, particularly when those treatments are not providing meaningful relief.
“If a wider range of migraine-specific treatments were available earlier in the patient journey, I believe many people could reach effective treatment sooner, avoid years of unnecessary suffering, reduce their exposure to ineffective medications and side effects, and maintain a better quality of life. Earlier intervention could also help people remain in work, education, and social activities, reducing the wider personal and societal impact of migraine.”
The cost of waiting: how the migraine treatment gap is failing patients recommends stronger community-based support, clearer treatment pathways, expanded access to new treatments, faster specialist care, and a health system that takes migraine seriously.
Thomas Rae, 54, from Scotland, said: “After migraine turned my life upside down over 10 years ago, I have spent a lot of time trialling many different treatments. I’ve been told that I have now exhausted all currently available treatment options, which is hard to hear. At a point, things got so bad that I tried to take my own life. I was so low, and I just felt that I couldn’t cope anymore. I reached out for mental health support and once I did it was like a weight had been lifted. Finding the right healthcare professionals can make such a difference.”
The findings add to growing concern about migraine care across the UK. Previous research from The Migraine Trust found patchy access to specialist headache clinics and rising waits for specialist care.
The Migraine Trust is the UK’s largest research and support charity for people affected by migraine. It provides free, confidential support, funds medical research and campaigns for better understanding and policy change.
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Notes
- The findings are drawn from research with 1,534 adults with migraine conducted by The Migraine Trust via SurveyMonkey in April 2026.
- Financial support has been provided to The Migraine Trust through grants from Pfizer Ltd and Dr Reddy’s Laboratories (UK) Ltd, who have had no input or influence into the development and delivery of any activities related to this project.
- The Migraine Trust is the only UK migraine charity providing information and support, campaigning for awareness and change, and funding and promoting research.
