NICE Guidelines for Parkinson's Disease, UK

Main Category: Parkinson's Disease
Article Date: 17 Aug 2005 - 0:00 PDT

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The Parkinson's Disease Society (PDS) welcomes the draft National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guideline on Parkinson's Disease issued for consultation with stakeholders.

These clinical practice guidelines are recommendations by NICE on the appropriate treatment and care of people with specific diseases and conditions within the NHS.

The PDS particularly welcomes the specific recommendations:

* People with suspected early Parkinson's disease should be seen by a specialist within six weeks.

* New referrals in later disease with more complex problems should be seen by a specialist within two weeks.

* The diagnosis should be kept under regular review at six to 12 month intervals.

* All people with Parkinson's should have regular access to specialist nursing care to provide monitoring and adjustment of medication, a point of contact for support including home visits and a reliable source of information about clinical and social matters relevant to Parkinson's disease.

* Communication with people with Parkinson's disease should empower them to participate in the judgments and choices about their own care.

Linda Kelly, Chief Executive, Parkinson's Disease Society said: "We are delighted with the development of these guidelines which reflect key issues for people with Parkinson's whatever age or stage of their condition. The draft recommendations have the potential to make a significant impact on the overall patient experience. When fully implemented the guideline, which will be mandatory, will help to ensure that people with Parkinson's have equal access to appropriate health and social care professionals as well as treatments to help them manage their symptoms as effectively as possible.

"Our one major disappointment is the extension of the timeline which will delay publication for the Guideline by three months. We would urge NICE not to delay the publication date, now likely to be July 2006."

Anyone interested in participating in the consultation by feeding in their comments through the PDS, please click here.

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