NHS England has announced that it will fund a novel handheld device for managing cluster headaches, as part of NHS Long Term Plan's commitment to deliver proven and affordable innovations to patients in the shortest possible time.
The handheld device utilises low-levels of electric current to disrupt pain signals and relieves the excruciating attacks of the users. It is placed on the neck where it stimulates the vagus nerve, thereby reducing pain.
Nearly 66,000 individuals in the UK encounter a cluster headache. One in 20 individuals who fail to respond to conventional therapies, including triptans, oxygen or anticonvulsants could benefit from the device. Eligible patients could be prescribed the portable device, which they can regularly use to prevent cluster headaches or use it before an impending attack.
The decision has been welcomed by the charity, The Migraine Trust. The head of support services, Susan Haydon, said: "Cluster headache is one of the most painful conditions that a person can experience. It is crucial that people who experience it receive effective treatment. It is therefore a very positive step that there is a new cluster headache treatment option available on the NHS."
