The incidence of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) has risen by >100% between 2002 and 2016 in the UK, in association with rising obesity rates. This increasing incidence has inevitably led to increased pressures on service capacity. Evidence for other conditions has shown that group consultations (GCs) deliver effective, person-centred healthcare, but this approach has not been tried for IIH. These authors aimed to develop and test a safe and effective GC service for IIH. The approach was interactive, with a bespoke in-person and virtual GC model. Improvements were made after each session using patient feedback and team reflections. Outcomes measured included patient satisfaction, self-perceived health literacy and successful implementation of the GCs. Feedback from participants was very favourable for the group model. Since September 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the model transitioned to weekly virtual GCs, receiving overwhelming positive feedback. In conclusion the authors report GCs as being safe and effective in IIH and this approach was preferred for this cohort. In addition, it allowed ongoing high-quality, person centred care despite challenges from the pandemic.
