Migraine Care: 10-year Health Plan

Lord Londesborough Excerpts

Monday 23rd March 2026 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Lord Londesborough]

To ask His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to improve access to migraine care through the 10 Year Health Plan for England.

[Lord Londesborough (CB)]

My Lords, in begging leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper, I declare my interest as a migraine sufferer.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Care (Baroness Merron) (Lab)]

My Lords, the Government are committed to improving migraine care through the 10-year health plan. We are strengthening neurological services by expanding community-based care and community diagnostics for earlier identification, widening the availability of effective treatments, such as calcitonin gene-related peptide inhibitors, and enhancing the NHS app. NHS England’s neurology programmes are also expanding specialist capacity, reducing avoidable A&E attendances and helping people with migraine to remain in work and maintain their well-being.

[Lord Londesborough (CB)]

I thank the Minister for engaging on a subject that has been raised just once in this House since 1961—which is extraordinary, as we have 10 million migraine sufferers in the UK, more than half of whom have no diagnosis or access to preventive medication. Migraines cost the wider economy more than £10 billion per annum in lost productivity and tax revenues, with hundreds of thousands of capable people unable to work due to lack of treatment, so does the Minister agree that there is a compelling economic as well as compassionate argument for better GP training, more neurologists and including migraine in the NHS Pharmacy First scheme?

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

I agree with the noble Lord. I appreciate the conversations we have had prior to this Question and acknowledge that he is one of the millions of people suffering from this condition. There is certainly a substantial economic and NHS impact from migraine. I am glad my department is working with the Department for Work and Pensions on a number of initiatives, including the WorkWell programme and the individual placement and support in primary care initiative, which are all focused on supporting those with migraine to stay in work and get back to work.