The City of London Migraine Clinic
Encyclopedia
The City of London Migraine Clinic is a specialist treatment centre for migraine
and other primary headaches. The clinic also carries out extensive research and education to improve treatment and awareness.
The Clinic has three main objectives to:
It is located in Charterhouse Square
in the London Borough of Islington
and has more than 30 years of experience in solving headaches. They have a team of registered doctors with a special interest in headaches providing specialist care in a charitable setting. It is a registered charity and social enterprise
and is independent of the National Health Service
(NHS), though they work with the NHS by offering their "specialist headache services." Most of the facility patients live in London and the Home Counties
but patients come from other parts of the UK and abroad.
The clinic is the only independent, charitable clinic in the world entirely focused on headaches and migraines.
. The Clinic initially provided a 'walk in' service for patients during an acute migraine attack and acted as a research centre into the causes and better treatment of migraine. Research undertaken on these patients led to the identification of an effective acute therapy with aspirin
and metoclopramide
that is now offered as a standard line of management.
Dr Wilkinson won the first Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Award, presented at the Headache World 2000 meeting in London. The previous Medical Director Anne MacGregor
won the same award in 2002.
in the past through several trials.
The clinic receives some funding from drug companies for research and trials as well as one-off donations from commercial organisations, trusts and other donors..
The clinic does not receive funding from the NHS, however NHS doctors do refer patients to utilise their specialist headaches and migraine expertise.
Migraine
Migraine is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by moderate to severe headaches, and nausea...
and other primary headaches. The clinic also carries out extensive research and education to improve treatment and awareness.
The Clinic has three main objectives to:
- Provide treatment to all sufferers of migraine and other headaches
- Conduct, promote and publish research into the causes, treatment and alleviation of migraine and other headaches
- Share knowledge through training, lecturing and publications
It is located in Charterhouse Square
Charterhouse Square
Charterhouse Square is a historic square in Smithfield, between Charterhouse Street and Clerkenwell Road. It lies in the extreme south of the London Borough of Islington, just north of the City of London....
in the London Borough of Islington
London Borough of Islington
The London Borough of Islington is a London borough in Inner London. It was formed in 1965 by merging the former metropolitan boroughs of Islington and Finsbury. The borough contains two Westminster parliamentary constituencies, Islington North and Islington South & Finsbury...
and has more than 30 years of experience in solving headaches. They have a team of registered doctors with a special interest in headaches providing specialist care in a charitable setting. It is a registered charity and social enterprise
Social enterprise
A social enterprise is an organization that applies business strategies to achieving philanthropic goals. Social enterprises can be structured as a for-profit or non-profit....
and is independent of the National Health Service
National Health Service
The National Health Service is the shared name of three of the four publicly funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. They provide a comprehensive range of health services, the vast majority of which are free at the point of use to residents of the United Kingdom...
(NHS), though they work with the NHS by offering their "specialist headache services." Most of the facility patients live in London and the Home Counties
Home Counties
The home counties is a term which refers to the counties of South East England and the East of England which border London, but do not include the capital city itself...
but patients come from other parts of the UK and abroad.
The clinic is the only independent, charitable clinic in the world entirely focused on headaches and migraines.
History
The Clinic was founded by Dr Nat Blau and Dr Marcia Wilkinson in in 1980 as an independent registered medical charity affiliated with St Bartholomew's HospitalSt Bartholomew's Hospital
St Bartholomew's Hospital, also known as Barts, is a hospital in Smithfield in the City of London, England.-Early history:It was founded in 1123 by Raherus or Rahere , a favourite courtier of King Henry I...
. The Clinic initially provided a 'walk in' service for patients during an acute migraine attack and acted as a research centre into the causes and better treatment of migraine. Research undertaken on these patients led to the identification of an effective acute therapy with aspirin
Aspirin
Aspirin , also known as acetylsalicylic acid , is a salicylate drug, often used as an analgesic to relieve minor aches and pains, as an antipyretic to reduce fever, and as an anti-inflammatory medication. It was discovered by Arthur Eichengrun, a chemist with the German company Bayer...
and metoclopramide
Metoclopramide
Metoclopramide is an antiemetic and gastroprokinetic agent. It is commonly used to treat nausea and vomiting, to facilitate gastric emptying in people with gastroparesis, and as a treatment for the gastric stasis often associated with migraine headaches.-Medical uses:Metoclopramide is commonly...
that is now offered as a standard line of management.
Dr Wilkinson won the first Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Award, presented at the Headache World 2000 meeting in London. The previous Medical Director Anne MacGregor
Anne MacGregor
Prof Anne MacGregor MD is a medical researcher based in London, United Kingdom. She is a leading researcher in the field of hormonal effects on migraine.Prof MacGregor received her MB BS from St Bartholomew's Hospital in London in 1986...
won the same award in 2002.
Treatment
The City of London Migraine Clinic provides a team of specialist doctors who give advice on the management of migraine and other headaches, including cluster headaches. The clinic prides itself on quality care and provides patients with significantly longer appointment times than would be found elsewhere to allow a thorough approach..Research
As a result of their research studies, standard treatments have been developed that are recommended by the British Association for the Study of Headache (BASH) and used worldwide. They are the only centre specialising in research and management of migraine in women in the world.New drug and non-drug treatments are tested in clinical trials enabling patients to participate; there is also comparative research into established treatments. They have also looked into the benefits of feverfewFeverfew
Feverfew is a traditional medicinal herb which is found in many old gardens, and is also occasionally grown for ornament. The plant grows into a small bush up to around high, with citrus-scented leaves and is covered by flowers reminiscent of daisies...
in the past through several trials.
Education
The Clinic is a renowned teaching centre, giving regular lectures to the medical community as well as the lay public. The Clinic's specialists also train year 2 and year 4 medical students of Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry and supervise year 4 medical students on their dissertations on migraine. It works closely with national and international lay and professional organisations and countless scientific papers and publications for the general public have been produced by the Clinic.Funding
Patients are not charged for the clinic's services, however a minimum charitable donation is requested from all patients. Those who feel that they are of limited means can opt to donate less.The clinic receives some funding from drug companies for research and trials as well as one-off donations from commercial organisations, trusts and other donors..
The clinic does not receive funding from the NHS, however NHS doctors do refer patients to utilise their specialist headaches and migraine expertise.