A small, portable device that can zap away excruciating headaches
is now available to anyone who needs it on the NHS.
The gadget is held against the neck and delivers a low-level
electric current to block pain signals, relieving pain from
people suffering from ‘cluster’ headaches.
NHS England is expanding the use of gammaCore after successful
trials held over the last two years.
The NHS Long Term Plan is committed to using the latest
treatments and therapies to improve patient care.
Around 11,000 people are set to benefit from the device when they
have the debilitating headaches.
NHS medical director Stephen Powis said: “While
they may be small, these devices will make a huge difference to
people who suffer from these debilitating headaches – relieving
painful symptoms and allowing people to go about their daily
lives as normal.
“The NHS Long Term Plan committed to making cutting edge
treatments and technology available to save and improve lives.
“This is the latest example of the NHS testing the latest tech
and rolling it out at speed for patients across the country.”
Cluster headaches begin quickly and are often described as a
sharp, burning or piercing sensation on one side of the head with
attacks lasting between 15 minutes and three hours and occurring
up to eight times a day.
Patients can use the device regularly to prevent cluster
headaches or when they feel one starting to come on.
While rare, the debilitating condition is more common in men and
tends to start when they are in their 30s or 40s.
Clinicians now have another treatment option for patients,
particularly for those who have not had success with other
treatments, including triptan - painkillers used to ease
migraines and severe headaches.
The new technology is being made available, as part of the new
Medtech Funding Mandate policy, which came into effect on 1
April, allowing patients to benefit from fast tracked innovations
from the NHS.
About one to two people in every 1,000 are affected by the rare
type of headache and around one in 20 do not respond to
traditional methods, including painkillers or oxygen.
Matthew Whitty, director of innovation and life sciences
for NHS England, said: “Despite the pandemic, we remain
committed to delivering on the ambitious commitments set out in
the Long Term Plan to support the latest innovations and allow
patients to utilise them across the country, as quickly as
possible.
“The Gammacore device will provide life-changing benefits for
thousands of people and it is just one of a number of
technologies that are being mandated by the NHS.”
The NHS was the first country in the world to deliver the Pfizer
and Oxford AstraZenica Covid vaccines outside of a clinical
trial.
Dexamethasone, an inexpensive steroid, was discovered to be the
first effective treatment for Covid thanks to trials in the NHS.
NHS England has spent more than £160 million on Covid-friendly
cancer drugs which make it safer for patients to receive
treatment by reducing the impact on immune systems or limiting
hospital visits.
NHS England’s world-leading commercial capabilities mean NHS
patients were first in Europe to receive CAR-T therapy, which can
cure previously untreatable cancers.
People with Cystic Fibrosis have benefited from new medicines
that can reverse the condition, while the NHS has also rolled out
glucose monitors to improve diabetes care.
NHS England recently struck a deal on Zolgensma, which treats a
genetic disease that paralyses and often kills babies and young
children and also happens to be the world’s most expensive drug.
