Dr Karen Simpson, a GP with an extended role in headache, has won second prize at a major health conference in Sheffield for research showing how specialist headache care can be delivered closer to home for patients across North Wales. The award recognises a study that reviewed referrals across the region and found that many patients travelling long distances to hospital could be safely managed in local community settings.
The research was completed with support from expert colleagues at The Walton Centre in Liverpool, where Dr Simpson undertook her specialist headache training. By analysing referral patterns and patient outcomes, the study provided evidence that the current model of care, which often requires journeys of more than a hundred miles, is not always necessary for effective treatment.
Why the award matters
Second prize at the Sheffield conference places Dr Simpson’s work among the most highly regarded innovations presented at the event. It highlights the growing recognition that moving specialist services out of hospitals and into communities can improve access, reduce costs, and enhance the patient experience.
The proposed community headache team, developed in partnership with The Walton Centre and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s Living Well Service, is designed to put this evidence into practice. It would bring together specialists and local clinicians to deliver advanced care in clinics closer to patients’ homes.
What the new service would offer
The planned team would introduce a range of improvements for people living with chronic headache and migraine, including:
- Advanced treatments such as Botox injections for chronic migraine.
- Appointments conducted in Welsh, making care more accessible for Welsh-speaking patients.
- Shorter waiting times, reducing the delay between referral and treatment.
- A local point of contact for ongoing support and follow-up, reducing the need for repeated long-distance trips.
This model has the potential to transform the experience of headache patients in North Wales, many of whom currently face significant barriers to accessing specialist care.
Patients speak out
Dr Simpson highlighted the human impact of the current system. "Many patients travel more than a hundred miles to Liverpool for specialist headache assessment," she said. "Our findings show that most could be managed locally, reducing waiting times, travel burden and time away from families, work and caring responsibilities."
Early feedback from local patients on the new plans has been overwhelmingly positive, according to the team. Patients have welcomed the prospect of receiving the same level of specialist care without the stress and cost of long journeys.
Next steps
Further planning work is now underway within the health board to bring these specialist treatments directly into community clinics. The aim is to ensure that the service is fully integrated with existing primary and secondary care pathways, so that patients can move seamlessly between services as their needs change.
If the community headache team is approved, it could serve as a blueprint for other parts of the UK facing similar challenges. The combination of specialist expertise, local delivery, and patient-centred design offers a practical answer to the growing demand for headache services.
Dr Simpson’s award-winning research is a clear signal that with the right investment and collaboration, high-quality specialist care does not have to mean long journeys or lengthy waits. For patients in North Wales, the future of headache services looks brighter than ever.
