St Thomas Medical Group in conjunction with the NHS South West Headache Network
We have a current waiting list of five to six months.
We are happy to offer advice to GPs, either by email or telephone.
This website offers support for Practitioners and information for patients.
The Clinic:
The Exeter Headache Clinic is operated by St Thomas Medical Group, an NHS General Practice. It has been in operation since 2002.
Clinic personnel:
Dr David Kernick is a GP with a special interest in headache. He has a research interest in the area and has written a number of publications, including the Oxford University Press Manual of Headache. He was the Royal College of General Practitioners Headache Champion and previous Chair of the British Association for the Study of Headache, and currently leads the Association’s Headache Specialist General Practitioner Group.
Dr Rebecca Walker is a GP with a special interest in headache and women’s health. She is a senior Clinician with the National Migraine Centre, and is on the Council of the British Association for the Study of Headache.
Mrs Sam Hotton is the Clinic Manager.
Clinics
Clinics are held at St Thomas Health Centre, and occasionally at Exwick Health Centre.
Referral criteria
We have a contract to take referrals from practices within the Devon CCG area for adults over the age of 18. This should be done through the e-Referral Service – specify Neurology and choose Headache Clinic (Dr David Kernick). Unfortunately we are unable to take referrals from outside Devon, due to pressures on the Clinic, and are unable to take private referrals. Our current waiting list is around 5 to 6 months.
Due to high demand on our services, we only aim to see people in whom there are diagnostic challenges or in whom the GP has found management problematic.
We are not set up to deal with urgent referrals, but are happy to discuss cases in adults or children with GPs; either by email: d-icb.exeterheadacheclinic@nhs.net, or telephone: 01392 676679.
Educational Role
We undertake undergraduate and postgraduate education. One of our primary aims is to improve the management of headache in primary care. We welcome healthcare professionals who may wish to join us for a headache clinic and are always happy to talk to GPs’ surgery meetings. Contact Sam Hotton as above.