Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust are supporting National Migraine Awareness Week

For far too long, people have dismissed migraines as ‘just a headache’ rather than being recognised as a complex and potentially debilitating neurological disorder.

For those living with migraine it has a significant impact on their quality of life, their ability to work and lead normal day-to-day lives, and has a huge negative impact on that person’s mental health.

It is believed that around ten million people suffer from migraines in the UK alone. Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust are supporting National Migraine Awareness Week which takes place this week between 23 – 29 September 2024.

One in seven people live with migraine, and Torbay and South Devon run a number of clinics that focus solely on treating headache and migraines.

Dr Kathryn Medcalf set up the dedicated Headache Service in January 2017. She is a speciality doctor who both leads on and works within the Migraine Clinics: “Unfortunately, there is no cure for migraine, however there are successful treatments which can be life altering for those suffering with this condition.

“We have approaching 600 patients on our books either receiving treatment, waiting for treatment or follow-up appointments within our Migraine Clinics and across our headache services, and these numbers are rising.

“We have around 190 patients on Botox injections and around 100 receiving greater occipital nerve injections (GONI) who receive treatment every three months; we also administer oral treatment called gepants to around 70 patients.

“Here in Torbay and South Devon we are helping to lead the way by offering CGRP monoclonal antibodies to over 120 patients. CGRP are the first preventive medicines specifically developed for the treatment of migraines.”

Dr Medcalf currently runs four general headache clinics per week where she focusses on GONI treatment plus seeing new patients and follow ups.

Outpatient nurses run two additional Botox clinics per week, and Torbay and South Devon have also just appointed a new dedicated headache nurse who will be running an additional two clinics per week when fully trained, such is the demand for this type of treatment.

Dr Medcalf added: “We find that these treatments can help people live better lives; some return to work and can have a better family life as they aren’t laid up in bed with a migraine so often.

“Our patients often find that although they still get migraines, they are fewer, shorter duration, less severe and they can function better on treatments.

“I am proud to support National Migraine Awareness Week. Around six million people in the UK are affected by migraines and it is a debilitating condition and a serious health matter.

“Also, far too many of our public are not aware of the wide range of options available so please seek out the help available which could allow those who suffer, to better manage this condition.”

The Migraine Trust website has details on the awareness week, including more information on how to manage the condition, the range of new treatments available to tackle migraines, plus how to access further support.

Further advice on migraines and how to access treatment locally can be found on the NHS website’s migraine pages, or by contacting your GP.

More information about Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust’s Neurology Department, of which migraine’s and headaches sits within, can be on our Neurology pages.