Longterm care for people with Parkinson's, UK

Main Category: Parkinson's Disease
Article Date: 12 Mar 2005 - 10:00 PDT


The Parkinson's Disease Society (PDS) welcomes the National Service Framework (NSF) on Long Term Conditions published today.

There are three areas highlighted for development that are particularly important for people with Parkinson's. These are:

Personalised care plans - the commitment to provide every patient with an individual care plan tailored to their needs is crucial for people with Parkinson's. The condition varies from person to person, fluctuates throughout the day and week to week and changes as their Parkinson' s progresses. A more generalised approach to the care of patients with Parkinson's can lead to poor day to day management of their condition which impacts on both them and their carers and family.

Enhanced medicines management this is a critical factor in the ongoing treatment of Parkinson's. In order to effectively control their symptoms people with Parkinson's have to take a range of different medications at specific times throughout the day. It is vital that this is recognised and each patient receives the necessary support from trained health and social care staff.

Palliative care is a crucial aspect of care for those in the advanced stages of Parkinson's. A focus on expanding and improving this type of provision such as more beds in hospices is an important step forward. Recent research from the Parkinson's Disease Society highlights the fragmented and inaccessible services and poor quality care that are too often experienced by people with advanced stage Parkinson's and their carers.

Linda Kelly, Chief Executive of the Parkinson's Disease Society commented "This is a major step forward in the drive to ensure that everyone with Parkinson's is able to access high quality integrated care, tailored to their needs. The onus is now on local health and social care organisations to put this at the forefront of their local plans.

There are many practical steps that organisations can take to implement the NSF and the Healthcare Commission needs to ensure that this is prioritised in all areas of England and Wales. We hope that the Government will continue to give this a high profile. We must take full advantage of this important opportunity to improve services for people with Parkinson's and their carers."

The Society will continue to campaign locally and nationally to ensure that the NSF is implemented successfully. We will be working with our members and branches to maximise its impact on local services.

Parkinson's Disease Society
215 Vauxhall Bridge Road
London, UK
SW1V 1EJ
Registered Charity No. 258197

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