Migraine is one of the most common yet misunderstood neurological conditions with 1 in 7 adults ¹  in the UK living with migraine. Migraine also has a significant impact on the UK’s productivity with approximately 86 million workdays lost each year, costing ~£8.8 billion due to lost productivity via absenteeism and presenteeism ², placing real pressure on people, employers and the wider economy. 

To address this, Health Innovation Manchester (HInM) and pharmaceutical industry partner AbbVie have launched a collaborative working project, Transforming Migraine Care in Greater Manchester, which aims to understand the current migraine patient journey across Greater Manchester, analysing real-world data, identifying gaps in care and variation, assessing clinical and economic burden and impact on productivity.  

This project will be undertaken in close partnership with health and care professionals and people living with migraine in Greater Manchester. By modelling the approach on Greater Manchester’s 3m population ³, the project has the potential to inform future care pathways that could be scaled nationally to better support people with migraine across the UK.​  

Laura Rooney, Deputy CEO, Health Innovation Manchester, said: “Migraine is a common health condition, but it can have a huge impact on a person’s health, wellbeing and quality of life. By combining real-world data, clinical insight and patient experience, we can develop a clear understanding of how this condition affects local people and work towards building services that meet people’s needs and reduce pressure on the NHS and economy. We are pleased to be working collaboratively with AbbVie to drive meaningful, evidence-based change for patients.”  

Kelly Sanderson Schrems, Vice President and General Manager, AbbVie UK, said “Migraine has a profound impact on individuals, families and the wider economy, yet many people still struggle to access timely diagnosis and appropriate care. With more than two decades of experience in migraine, AbbVie is proud to be a strategic partner with Health Innovation Manchester and the NHS on this important project which brings together expertise from across the system to reimagine how improved migraine care can be delivered across integrated care systems.”  

More than “just a headache”  

Working with patients will be at the heart of the project and will address the misunderstood nature of the condition. With an estimated 10 million adults in the UK suffering from migraine, it is still too often dismissed as “just a headache” leaving people without the support and care they need. Migraine remains largely absent from national policy, leading to inconsistent care, poor outcomes, and a strain on NHS services such as high rates of emergency resource use with 17% visiting A&E and 13% requiring hospitalisation in a 2019 analysis (n=690) ⁴.

Without proper recognition, millions of people continue to face barriers to appropriate management with most people with migraine (60.7%) waiting over 5 years to receive effective treatment for the condition, whilst over a third (39.5%) can wait 10 years or more (n=473)⁵. 

Rob Music, Chief Executive of The Migraine Trust, said “For too long, people living with migraine have felt unseen and unsupported, often navigating years of disrupted lives and delayed diagnoses before receiving the care they need. We welcome the launch of this project in Greater Manchester, which puts patient experience front and centre and recognises the daily impact migraine has on individuals and families. By redesigning migraine care pathways with the people who go through them, this project has the potential to offer an approach to migraine care that leads to better outcomes for patients.” 

This project and supporting better care for migraine patients draws on the ambitions of the NHS 10-year plan by focusing on two of the three fundamental shifts: moving care from hospitals to communities and pivoting from sickness to prevention. 

An executive summary of outcomes will be jointly published upon completion of the project with a view on how the findings could be implemented UK-wide.  

About AbbVie   

AbbVie’s mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people’s lives across several key therapeutic areas – immunology, neuroscience and oncology – and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at abbvie.co.uk. Follow AbbVie | UK on LinkedIn and YouTube (@abbvie-uk)   

About Health Innovation Manchester  

Health Innovation Manchester (HInM) is a place-based innovation organisation formed by the health, care, civic and academic leaders of Greater Manchester (GM). Our vision is to be world leading in improving the lives of local people, transforming care and boosting the economy through innovation. This collaborative working project draws on HInM’s specific expertise in health innovation, data-driven transformation and stakeholder engagement. 

About Collaborative Working 

Collaborative working refers to pharmaceutical companies working with other organisations to deliver initiatives which either enhance patient care or are for the benefit of patients or alternatively benefit the National Health Service (NHS) and, as a minimum, maintain patient care. 

¹ Stigma of migraine being ‘just a headache’ leading to thousands being dismissed and struggling without care

² Society’s Headache: The Socioeconomic impact of migraine

³ Local indicators for Greater Manchester

⁴ 115 Economic burden among migraine patients: United Kingdom perspective

⁵ Most UK migraine patients wait over five years for effective treatment

Date of preparation: May 2026
Job bag number: UK-NEUM-260045