Migraine and chronic headache
A migraine is usually a throbbing headache, often on one side of the head, which can come with feeling sick and sensitivity to light or sound. Read more about migraine and chronic headache →
If symptoms are sudden, severe or getting worse, contact your GP or NHS 111.
Where are you up to?
The NHS reports waiting times by specialty, not by individual condition, so this is the neurology wait, updated August 2026. Enter a postcode to see the hospitals near you.
neurology waiting times by hospital
| Trust | Location | Typical wait |
|---|---|---|
| Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust | Worcester | 5 weeks |
| Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust | Hackney | 5 weeks |
| Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | Swindon | 5 weeks |
| Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust | Walsall | 6 weeks |
| Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | Kensington and Chelsea | 6 weeks |
| Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust | Lambeth | 7 weeks |
| East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust | Stevenage | 7 weeks |
| London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust | Brent | 7 weeks |
About migraine and chronic headache
A migraine is usually a moderate or severe headache felt as a throbbing pain, often on one side of the head. Many people also feel sick, are sensitive to light or sound, and some get warning signs beforehand (an aura), such as flashing lights or blind spots. Attacks can last from a few hours to a few days and can make normal activities difficult. Migraine is common and tends to run in families. Many things can trigger an attack, including tiredness, stress, certain foods or the menstrual cycle.
How it is treated
Most migraines are managed by a GP. Treatment has two parts: medicines to stop an attack (such as ordinary painkillers or specific migraine tablets called triptans, and anti-sickness medicine) and, for frequent attacks, daily medicines that reduce how often they happen. Keeping a diary to spot triggers can help. If headaches are very frequent, severe, or hard to control, the GP may refer you to a neurologist or a headache clinic.
Living with it
Migraine is a long-term condition that is managed rather than cured, and the right combination of treatments often takes some trial and adjustment. See your GP if attacks become more frequent or more severe, if your usual medicines stop working, or if the pattern of your headaches changes.
Sources: NHS: Migraine. Last updated October 2026.
General information only, not medical advice. Wait or Pay is independent and is not the NHS. Your GP decides what care, if any, you need.