Our headache assessment is built using NICE guideline NG150 and the International Classification of Headache Disorders to accurately describe your symptoms and guide the appropriate care.
We assess your symptoms in detail to distinguish between common and serious headache types, including:
A headache that reaches maximum intensity within seconds is treated as a medical emergency.
This type of headache is strongly associated with serious conditions such as subarachnoid haemorrhage, which presents this way in the vast majority of cases.
If your assessment identifies migraine with aura, we automatically flag important medication safety considerations.
Combined hormonal contraceptives (the COCP) are classified as UKMEC Category 4 (unacceptable risk) in patients with migraine with aura due to an increased risk of stroke.
Medication overuse headache is one of the most common — and often overlooked — causes of chronic daily headache.
According to NICE NG150, regular use of pain relief medication for more than 10–15 days per month can:
Higher-risk medications include:
Our platform identifies this pattern and provides:
Each neurological condition uses a dedicated, NICE-aligned clinical pathway to ensure assessment accuracy.
If your headaches are frequent, getting worse, have changed pattern, or painkillers no longer help. Call 999 for any of the emergency signs above.
Yes. After your consultation the neurologist can recommend or prescribe treatment and write to your GP.
Most people with headaches don’t need a scan. Your neurologist will only recommend one if your symptoms suggest it.