Parkinson's Disease Society welcomes Health Select Committee's report on Palliative Care UK

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 23 Jul 2004 - 15:00 PDT

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The Parkinson's Disease Society (PDS) welcomes the Report of the Health Select Committee on Palliative Care and, in particular, the needs of people with non-cancer conditions such as Parkinson's disease.

The PDS is concerned that the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) Guideline on palliative care for adults relates solely to cancer services and will press for the forthcoming NICE Guideline on Parkinson's to address fully the needs of patients at all stages including at end of life.

Further, the PDS welcomes the recommendation of the Health Select Committee regarding the need for the National Service Framework for Long Term Conditions to assume responsibility for palliative care in non-cancer conditions.

The PDS is also concerned at the inequalities in provision of hospice care in the UK and strongly believes that all individuals should have the opportunity to access good quality services that meets their particular needs effectively in all respects.

http://www.parkinsons.org.uk