What assessment has the Cabinet Minister made of the implementation and impact of the All-Wales Headache Toolkit since its launch in February 2023, including its impact on the diagnosis, referral and treatment of people living with migraines?
The Welsh Government’s aim is to ensure that people of all ages who are living with, or affected by, a neurological condition — including headache disorders — have timely and equitable access to high-quality services that support them to live well. This aim is set out in the Quality Statement for neurological conditions.
Health boards and NHS trusts are expected to use Quality Statements to guide the planning and delivery of high-quality services. This includes ensuring services are aligned with clinical standards and guidelines, and working with relevant partners in Wales, and across the border in England where appropriate, to strengthen pathways of care.
The All-Wales Headache Toolkit was launched in February 2023 to support the assessment and management of headache disorders across Wales and promote more consistent care. While a formal assessment of the toolkit's impact on the diagnosis, referral and treatment of people living with migraine has not been undertaken, the Neurological Conditions Network has identified potential value in reviewing and refreshing the toolkit to promote awareness and support its integration into routine clinical practice.
To further support improvements in care, the Network published Primary Care Advice and Guidance sheets for headache in 2025. These resources are intended to support community-based management and help improve the appropriateness of referrals to secondary care and Improved data on service activity and patient outcomes will help support future consideration of the impact of initiatives such as the All-Wales Headache Toolkit.