How we can help

Let us connect you with expert, caring clinicians who offer remote consultations and can discuss anti-CGRP prescriptions and procedures

The National Migraine Centre gave me access to treatment that’s given me my life back. It’s a world leading centre in migraine care.

The National Migraine Centre aims to make sure all those affected by migraine have access to life-changing support and world class treatment.

Over more than 40 years, we have helped tens of thousands of people control their headaches and get back to living.

The leading UK migraine clinic, we allow patients from across the country to see the best headache doctors and consultant neurologists, without having to even leave home.

Our charity brings together some of the top migraine and headache specialists who deliver expert, compassionate care.

Alongside migraine, we can also connect you with headache specialists able to develop personalised headache plans for cluster headaches and tension-type headaches too.

We make no profit: we partner with world class headache specialists who choose to work for a fraction of NHS and private rates. All our income, from donations and private fees, helps extend our help for those affected by migraine, treating more people, supporting research and improving professional skills.

Beat the misery of migraine and get back to living.

Getting the right treatment for you

Q: How do I find a doctor for migraine or other headaches?

According to the Migraine Trust, ‘Most migraine patients never see a headache specialist, including those with chronic migraine who are referred to neurologists who may not have an expertise in migraine.’

At the National Migraine Centre, you can be assured that we only work with headache specialist GPs, consultants and nurses who have experience and dedicated training in managing migraine and other primary headaches. We’ve been a leading centre for headache treatment for over 40 years.

Q: Who is the best specialist doctor for migraine and headache?

It can be challenging to find an experienced headache specialist. How can you be confident you’ll find a clinician with the right knowledge and expertise to be able to confidently diagnose and treat your headaches?

At the National Migraine Centre, we only work with clinicians who have completed rigorous training. They’re part of a team that works closely together to ensure you always get the very best care from experts who are passionate about delivering the very best for those with migraine and other headaches. You can read more about the clinicians we work with here.

Q: How do I find a specialist headache doctor near me?

With the National Migraine Centre, we offer you access to world class, experienced headache specialist clinicians wherever you are in the UK. We’ll provide you with a videolink for your consultation (calls are available if you prefer), so you can access renowned, leading headache doctors wherever you are, without even leaving home.

Booking an appointment

Clinicians offer a range of treatment options, including routine consultations (where you will be invited to make a donation towards the cost of treatment) and private consultations (which will give you quick access to consultant neurologists and senior GP headache specialists).

If you choose a routine appointment, you’ll be added to a waiting list – you may need to wait some months, depending on the number of clinicians available. Private appointments allow for quick access to a GP, often with no more than a few days wait.

You can go ahead and book a consultation here, or read on to find out more about the appointment types available.

Book your consultation

Anti-CGRP prescriptions

Anti-CGRP medications stop the action of CGRP, a chemical neurotransmitter involved in the transmission of pain signals, and can improve symptoms, sometimes dramatically, in around 50 to 60 per cent of cases.

Anti-CGRPs come in various forms. The headache specialist you see through the National Migraine Centre will discuss if anti-CGRPs are right for you and, if so, identify the best treatment option.

The injectable option (mAbs) are used as migraine preventers and are generally self-administered monthly injections. Through the National Migraine Centre, leading headache doctors prescribe Ajovy, Aimovig and Emgality.

More recently, anti-CGRP tablets (the gepants) have also been licensed in the UK, and you can speak to a clinician through the National Migraine Centre about whether or not Vydura (rimegepant) is right for you. Vydura is licensed not only as a way of preventing migraine attacks, but treating them also.

Finally, you can also discuss access to Vyepti, which is available as a drip, administered every three months.

Access to anti-CGRP medication is often very difficult through the NHS: your GP generally can’t prescribe these medications, you may have a very long wait for a hospital appointment and you will usually have to try at least three other medications from three categories of drugs before you can be considered.

With the National Migraine Centre, you can usually see a top migraine specialist within days. Book your video (or telephone) consultation through the National Migraine Centre today and we will put you in touch with a headache specialist GP or prescribing nurse, all from your own home, who can discuss whether anti-CGRPs could help.

See our factsheet for more on anti-CGRP treatment for migraine.

Book your consultation

Note: Fees apply (see the Funding your appointment page page for details). Anti-CGRP medication may be considered for those with 4+ migraine days a month. Anti-CGRPs are generally well tolerated but are not suitable for those who are pregnant (or planning on becoming pregnant) or those under 18 years of age. Patients with heart disease should also discuss this with their headache specialist. We offer consultations to discuss treatments. A consultation may not lead to a prescription if your clinician decides it is unsuitable or you withdraw consent.

Headache specialist consultations

With our extended appointment times, headache specialists get the chance to really understand your history and find the right treatment options for you. And video appointments allow you the convenience of seeing a leading migraine doctor or top consultant neurologist from your home, wherever you are in the UK (telephone consultations are also available).

You can choose between a routine appointment, where you will be invited to donate towards the cost of your treatment, or a private appointment, which allows quick access to a senior clinician.

You’ll be seen by a trained headache specialist who will take time to understand you and your headaches before developing a personalised treatment plan – and you don’t even need to leave the house!

If you choose a routine appointment, you’ll join a waiting list – during busier times, it can be some months before we can see you. Private appointments allow for quick access to a headache doctors, often with no more than a few days wait.

Book your consultation

Note: Patients booking routine appointments may be invited to donate towards the cost of their appointment. Fees apply to private appointments (see the Funding your appointment page page for details).

Procedure clinics

Book a consultation to discuss treatment at a procedure clinic, for convenient access to therapies for headache.

  • Greater occipital nerve (GON) block treatment involves an injection of local anaesthetic and steroid around the nerves which supply the scalp. It can be effective both for migraine and cluster headache patients. Studies show around two-thirds of patients benefit from treatment, which may include reducing both the frequency and severity of headaches. See our factsheet for more on nerve blocks for headache.
  • Botox® is offered at all our procedure clinics and is licensed for the treatment of chronic migraine*.  Research shows most people with chronic migraine improve with treatment. Learn more about Botox for migraine from our factsheet.

Book your consultation

Note: Fees apply (see the Funding your appointment page for details). These procedures are available to patients from across the UK (plus the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey), but clinics take place in England only. We will endeavour to offer a clinic location that is convenient to you. If the location we offer is not convenient, you can cancel the booking request at any time before payment is made. We offer consultations to discuss treatments. A consultation may not lead to a procedure if your clinician decides it is unsuitable or you withdraw consent. If a procedure is cancelled in such circumstances, you will be reimbursed the fee, less the consultation charge. You must be at least 16 years old for GON block treatment and at least 18 years old for Botox treatment.

* Chronic migraine is defined as at least 15 days of headache each month, of which at least eight days have migraine features, such as nausea, light or noise sensitivity, pulsating or lateralised pain.

Book a consultation now

Don’t suffer the misery of migraine, get back to living. With remote consultations, procedures clinics, anti-CGRP prescriptions and urgent private appointments, there’s a team of caring clinicians ready to help you.

Book your consultation today