Spring 2010 Newsletter
30th Birthday
Information Day on Hormonal Headaches
Doctors’ events
Donations
Have you got a philanthropic employer?
Research
Migraine Heroes Healthcare Awards 2010
Parliamentary report on headache disorders
New newsletter system – feedback and suggestions!
30th Birthday
We are celebrating our 30th Birthday. The Clinic was set up by Dr Nat Blau and Dr Marcia Wilkinson in 1980 and although much has changed since then, the building and aims of the Clinic haven’t changed. For our 30th anniversary year we have a number of things planned but we would like to involve as many of you as possible; so if you have any ideas of how you would like to celebrate our birthday, please do let us know!
Information Day on Hormonal Headaches for the Public
We are a world renowned centre of excellence on hormones and migraine. On 1st July 2010 we have arranged an information day on hormonal headaches. More than half of all women who have migraine notice a link to their period, but how does that affect how you treat it? How do you deal with menstrual migraines, migraine attacks during pregnancy and whilst breastfeeding or during the menopause? These are some of the topics that will be covered on the day.
We will also provide lunch and snacks throughout the day. To cover the costs of this day we are charging £25, including the refreshments.
Provisional programme:
9.30 Welcome & Coffee
10.00 ‘What’s the link between hormones and headaches – from puberty to menopause’
11.00 Medication overuse headache
12.00 Lunch break
13.00 Headaches in pregnancy
14.00 The Pill for migraine?
15.00 Roundup and tea & coffee
The Clinic is internationally known for its research, much of which has focused on hormones and migraine and we wish to spread the knowledge we have to people affected. We also want to further our own knowledge and current research includes a study on genetics and menstrual migraine. If you have menstrual migraine please contact our Clinical Research Sister Alison Frith via email on research@migraineclinic.org.uk or on 020 7251 8094 to find out about our current and forthcoming studies.
Doctors’ events
As in previous years we are running a number of events for medical professionals this year. We are trying to circulate the information as widely as possible and so if you know anyone that might be interested in our events please let us know and we can send them a flyer. Maybe you could drop a few off at your GP surgery? The flyers can be found on our website.
We have the flyer in both electronic and paper format and can send you copies of either version. This spring/summer we have 2 full-day symposiums planned, each costing £125. These are suitable for healthcare professionals. The symposia are based in London, providing easy access to healthcare professionals from around the UK.
We will be arranging a general Headache Symposium on the 27th May that aims to cover as much ground as possible in one day. There will be a number of speaker including Dr Anne MacGregor and topics range from making a diagnosis, when to investigate and cluster headaches.
On the 10th June we are holding a Hormonal Headaches symposium. Speakers confirmed are Dr Anne MacGregor and Prof. John Guillebaud (co-authors of the book ‘The Pill’). Topics includes the link between hormones and migraine, headaches in pregnancy and taking the Pill for migraine.
Our evening series of Masterclasses will also be returning in September.
Donations
A big thank you to all of you who have helped the Clinic with donations!
Since last spring the average patient donation has increased by more than a third. This has been even more appreciated considering the current economic climate. Whilst we are extremely grateful for this increase in the average donation it is still considerably below the cost of the service. So we will continue to inform patients of our true costs, and continue pursuing new partnerships to help offset the financial difference.
Have you got a philanthropic employer?
In a past newsletter we mentioned that some organisations match fund donations made to charities. We are now pleased in inform you that one of the large banks, Credit Suisse have a scheme ‘Employee Participation Grants’. This is to recognise and support the individual volunteering (of 8 hours or more) and fundraising efforts (raised £500 or more one year) of employees in a personal capacity outside of the bank. The award is £500 per employee per calendar year for their chosen charity.
Some of you may work for other employers with similar schemes from which we might benefit. We would be extremely grateful and would offer any adminstratvie support required to submit the application.
Research
We are currently doing a study on genentics and menstual migraine – you may have seen posters looking for women who have menstrual migraine. Along with these volunteers we also need some volunteers for our control group - this means that they would complete a questionaire and provide us with a sample of saliva.
Control group volunteers must not have migraine or a family history of migraine. They also need to be women between the ages of 18 and 65. To gather the amount of samples we need we used other events to enable us to reach more people (who don’t have migraine). Ideally a stand in a large office would allow us to get a large amount of samples in a shorter time than relying on friends of patients. If you, or anyone you know, might be able to help us arrange something like this please do not hesitate to contact our Clinical Research Sister Alison Frith via email on research@migraineclinic.org.uk or on 020 7251 8094.
Migraine Heroes Healthcare Awards 2010
Our Research Sister, Alison Frith won the category Best Healthcare Professional in 2008. Do you have a very supportive employer, or maybe a friend or family member who has helped you or someone you know with their migraine? New for this year is the category of ‘Best Clinic’ We very much encourage you to nominate people and organisations that have helped and supported those suffering with migraine for Migraine Action’s annual awards. There are 8 categories and nominations are open until the 19th June, the forms for which can be found at www.migraine.org.uk/heroes, or paper versions from the clinic.
Since last spring the average patient donation has increased by more than a third. This has been even more appreciated considering the current economic climate. Whilst we are extremely grateful for this increase in the average donation it is still considerably below the cost of the service. So we will continue to inform patients of our true costs, and continue pursuing new partnerships to help offset the financial difference.
The categories are as follows:
- Best Carer
- Best Clinic
- Best in Complementary Medicine
- Best Employer
- Best GP
- Best Healthcare Professional
- Young Migraineur Star Award
- Young Migrauneur Special Award
So if you know of anyone who has made a difference to the life of one or more migraine sufferers please take the time to let them know they are appreciated.
Parliamentary Report on Headache Disorders
This past Tuesday, the 16th March, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Primary Headache Disorders published a report called Headache Disorders - nor respected, not resourced . This report is based on the evidence presented to the Group over the past two years. The report covers a number of topics, including the economic costs of migraine to the UK, improving management in primary care and company research. One of the chapters of the report, on migraine in women, was written by our Clinical Research Director Dr Anne MacGregor who also held a small presentation at the launch of the report.
In the words of the APPG chairman Stephen O’Brien MP "I believe that the thrust of this report should have real impact in urging policy- and decision-makers to turn their attention to this pressing, widespread issue which is capable of solutions that will increase the wellbeing of our constituents and fellow citizens."
Hopefully this report can help in highlighting the impact of headaches on so many people and provide a government incentive to take headaches more seriously.
New newsletter system – feedback and suggestions!
Our December newsletter was the first to be sent using our new newsletter email system. The new system allows us to have the header and footer with our logo and details and also makes it easier to put together and send. As the format has changed we would like to know what you would like to see in the upcoming newsletters. Do you want to hear more about the fundraising we do, or maybe get updates on the research? Would a news summary of headache news from around the would be of interest?
We would also like to know how it looks to you: can you see the logo, did it end up among your junk mail or anything else that you would like to comment on?
Any suggestions and ideas are warmly received!
Heather Sim
Chief Executive
