Headache Service Overview

The Headache Service at Sunderland hospital runs both consultant and nurse-led headache clinics. In these clinics patients with a variety of headache conditions will be reviewed and assessed. Options will be provided to help assist with individual care needs. They will provide advice and support to help manage headache conditions. The Headache Specialist Nurse and Consultant Neurologist work closely together and they will tailor a treatment plan with a patient centred approach.

Consultant Neurologist

Dr Gina Kennedy has been in the post as a Neurology Consultant with specialist interest in Headache at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Trust since April 2013.

She is Chair of the Northern Regional Headache Multidisciplinary group, Clinical Lead for Neurology Services at STSFT Hospitals and the Headache Service Lead. She sees a wide range of Headache disorders including cluster headache and other autonomic cephalalgias, migraine, neuralgia and atypical headache types.

Dr Gina Kennedy also has an involvement in Regional and National pathways of care for patients with headache. She has an active role in headache clinical trials and up to date headache treatments with a keen interest in app technology to improve headache management.

Headache Specialist Nurse Service: 

The Headache Specialist Nurse Sister Susan Richardson will play a vital role in the care and treatment of headache patients. She is fully trained in a number of headache conditions and is an independent injector providing procedure clinics. Her working hours are Monday to Friday 8.30 – 16.30.  

She can be contacted on the answer phone service which is an accessible and efficient way for patients to get advice.  Please note that this is not an urgent advice line and it may be up to 72 hours before calls are return due to clinical commitments.  If a call is urgent patients are advised to contact the GP or 111. If it is not urgent the Nurse will contact the patient in due course. Dr Kennedy’s and Sister Richardson’s Secretarial team can also be contacted to triage patient calls.  If we feel an urgent assessment from the headache team is required an appointment will be provided. 

The Headache Nurse provides three Botox procedure clinics and two headache review clinics per week as well as the answerphone service.  Patients will need to have been reviewed by a Consultant Neurology or A register before being referred to the headache nurse. 

Botox service / procedure clinics

We currently offer Nurse and Consultant led Botox clinics for chronic migraine. Patients will be assessed and if they are eligible for treatment will be referred for a new patient appointment. This will be based on NICE guidance. They will receive their first cycle at this stage. We also offer greater occipital nerve injections for patients with a variety of headache conditions.   

The Sunderland Headache Team: 

Dr Gina Kennedy         Consultant Neurologist with a specialist interest in Headache 
Susan Richardson       Headache Specialist Nurse 
Julie Nicklin                 Medical Secretary Neurology 
Lisa Forrest                  Administration Assistant

What support you will receive at Sunderland 

  • After being referred to the headache service you will be given an appointment with the Consultant Neurologist 
  • At this review a full headache history will be taken and you will be given a treatment plan based on your individual needs with your agreement.  
  • You will receive expert care provided by the headache team who will play a key role in coordinating your care needs.  
  • You will be provided either face to face clinic assessment or telephone reviews at intervals specific to your needs. 
  • The Consultant and The Specialist Nurse will provide review clinics for medication and symptom advice and procedure clinics where you can undergo treatment such as Botox and Greater occipital nerve injections.  
  • We can liaise with other members of the Multidisciplinary team when needed such as the physiotherapist for Acupuncture. 
  • You will be advised to keep a headache diary to enable us to establish your headache pattern and if your treatment is working.  

Contact Details:    Via the hospital switch board on 0191 5656256. 

Susan Richardson      Headache Specialist Nurse     extension 40187, bleep 59867
Dr Kennedy                Consultant Neurologist            extension 42172 
Julie Nicklin                 Medical Secretary                   extension 42388
Lisa Forrest                 Administration Assistant          extension 42315

Useful Links

Monthly Headache Diary that can be completed between reviews
https://www.nationalmigrainecentre.org.uk/migraine-and-headaches/migraine-and-headache-diary/

Migraine Trust for information on living with migraine and other useful advice on treatment and support
https://www.migrainetrust.org/

Cluster headache conditions, treatment and support
https://ouchuk.org/ 

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension 
https://www.iih.org.uk/what-is-iih

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