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Headaches: Medical Treatments

Volume 461: debated on Monday 18 June 2007

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision is available on the NHS for occipital nerve stimulation for cluster headaches; and whether the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has been consulted on the provision of the treatment. (141423)

Recent trials involving the use of occipital nerve stimulation for the treatment of cluster headaches have shown some promise. It is the responsibility of health professionals to consider whether this treatment should be made available to those patients where existing drug treatments prove ineffective.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has not been consulted on the provision of this treatment.