This week, The Migraine Trust and The Neurological Alliance launched Improving headache and migraine care together: A tool for NHS professionals & providers.

The new tool is designed to help NHS commissioners, providers and professionals to plan, design and improve local services for people of all ages affected by headache and migraine. It identifies and signposts to the best available resources and provides a framework for local service transformation.

Developed by The Migraine Trust and the Neurological Alliance with support from people living with migraine, health professionals, service managers at Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and NHS provider representatives from across England, the tool is focused on care pathways that can be delivered in the community with key stakeholders, partners and services.

Rob Music, Chief Executive of The Migraine Trust, said: “We know that many people with migraine find it challenging to access the care they need or deserve. At the same time, we recognise it can be challenging as a commissioner, provider or healthcare professional looking to improve services to know where to start. The launch of this tool marks an important step in moving toward consistent, high-quality care for people living with migraine.”

Georgina Carr, Chief Executive of Neurological Alliance, said: “This tool offers a blueprint for best practice headache and migraine care in local settings and supports the NHS 10 Year Plan’s ambition to move care from hospitals to communities. We hope it will empower local healthcare leaders to improve headache and migraine services, which will not only improve patient outcomes but also reduce pressure on secondary care services.”

Improving headache and migraine care together: A tool for NHS professionals & providers is endorsed by the British Association for the Study of Headache (BASH), Association of British Neurologists (ABN) and British Paediatric Neurology Association (BPNA).

Alex Sinclair, Chair of BASH, said: “BASH welcomes this practical, evidence-informed tool, which brings together the key resources needed to improve headache and migraine care across the NHS. By supporting joined-up pathways, strengthening primary and community management, and enabling timely access to specialist expertise, it represents an important step towards more consistent, high-quality care for people affected by headache disorders.”

Dr Rachael Kilner, Clinical Advisor on the project, GP with extended role headache King’s College Hospital, St Thomas’ Hospital and Bromley GP Alliance community headache clinic, said: “Headache disorders represent one of the largest opportunities to improve neurological care across the NHS. Too many people are still experiencing avoidable delays, unnecessary referrals and fragmented pathways. This tool brings together the evidence, clinical guidance and practical resources needed to support more consistent, joined-up care across primary, community and specialist services.”

Dr Kay Kennis, Clinical Advisor on the project, GP with extended role in headache, Bradford Community Neurology Service, said: “For many people living with migraine, the difference between good and poor care comes down to whether they can access the right support at the right time. Strengthening headache care in the community has the potential to improve outcomes for patients while reducing avoidable demand on hospitals. This tool supports services to make those changes using evidence-based approaches.”

The Migraine Trust is committed to improving care, support and awareness for people with migraine. You can stay up to date with our work here and by signing up to our ebulletin.

Financial support for this project has been provided as a Quality Improvement Grant from Pfizer International LLC.  Editorial control rests with The Migraine Trust and the Neurological Alliance.