Cheshire’s healthcare system is failing the 1 in 7 people living with migraine

Migraine is one of the most disabling conditions in the world, affecting one in seven people in the UK. A new report by the UK’s leading migraine charity The Migraine Trust reveals the legacy of pain and damaged lives caused by the UK’s broken migraine healthcare system.

From being dismissed as ‘just having a headache’, waiting years to be diagnosed, to lack of access to specialist care and new treatment, the report launched for Migraine Awareness Week (5-11 September) exposes a broken healthcare system which migraine patients in Cheshire and the wider UK are struggling to navigate. 

The Migraine Trust says this is leading to the worsening of people’s migraine, limiting their ability to carry out their lives with a huge impact on personal relationships, work and mental health. It is calling for an urgent review of migraine healthcare across the UK.

Cheshire needs more headache clinics

Despite headache disorders being the third most common disease in the world, Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust currently have no specialist headache clinic, with the latter referring patients out to Walton Hospital, according to responses to a Freedom of Information request submitted by The Migraine Trust. Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust says it does have a specialist headache clinic, although it is managed by University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Foundation Trust. The Health Trusts did not respond to further questions from The Migraine Trust.

Many migraine patients in England struggle to get sufficient help from their local doctor as GP training on migraine is limited and GP understanding of migraine care and treatment is often inconsistent.

Eligible patients not getting life-changing new treatments

Many migraine patients across the UK have recently experienced significant improvements in their migraine thanks to a revolutionary new treatment called calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) monoclonal antibody treatment. This is the first ever drug created specifically to prevent migraine, but despite it being approved for use on the NHS, many eligible patients are struggling to access it due to lack of funding and a frustrating postcode lottery.

It is currently unclear whether eligible patients in Cheshire can access CGRP medication through the NHS. Patients who can’t access it often have to resort to private prescriptions, which cost over £300 each month, or struggle on with their migraine if they cannot afford to. Some people live with chronic migraine, meaning they experience headache on at least 15 days every month, with 8 of those days being migraine attacks. CGRP treatment could be life-changing for Cheshire residents with this debilitating condition.   

“This report highlights the urgent need to drastically improve healthcare services for the one in seven Cheshire people living with migraine. It is unacceptable that people living with such a debilitating long-term condition cannot easily access CGRP medication and must travel outside their area to see a specialist. This inequity must change. Our support services at The Migraine Trust are contacted daily by people who have had to fight to be diagnosed correctly, who have to wait months or longer to see a specialist, or who are unable to access the NICE-approved medication they are eligible for.”

Rob Music, Chief Executive of The Migraine Trust

Migraine is a complex and debilitating long-term brain disease. Symptoms include severe headache, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, sensitivity to light, sound and smells, and sensory changes like disturbed vision. If you experience symptoms of migraine it’s important to visit your GP. You can also contact The Migraine Trust’s helpline on 0808 802 0066 or email info@migrainetrust.org for advice and support.