Did you know we have a Parkinson's Service? Column by CEO Maz Fosh

During April we have World Parkinson’s Day, which aims to raise awareness of Parkinson's disease and promote a greater understanding of the condition and how it can affect a person.

Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition that affects approximately 145,000 people in the UK. It is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world and two people are diagnosed in the UK every hour.

The condition is caused by a loss of cells in the brain that produce a chemical called dopamine, which helps with smooth and coordinated movement.  It is not known exactly why these cells die, but researchers think it’s a combination of age, genetic and environmental factors.  There is a lot of research going on to find out more precise causes and treatment options.

Parkinson’s is more common in people over the age of 60 and men are more often affected than women.

At LCHS we have a Parkinson’s Service made up of five Parkinson’s disease specialist nurses and a Parkinson’s specialist physiotherapist.

Patients are referred to the service after their diagnosis and receive an assessment, support and advice from our specialist team, throughout their treatment.

The team is proactive in their work to help with symptoms or issues before they become significant and can refer patients to different services, such as speech and language therapy or mental health services, to help with supported self-management.

People with Parkinson’s can suffer from a number of issues, including motor symptoms, such as slowness of movement, rigidity, tremors and non-motor symptoms such as, continence issues, anxiety and depression, speech and swallowing complaints, pain, sleep difficulties, fatigue and low blood pressure.

However, all patients are different, which requires the team to liaise closely with neurology and care of the elderly consultants, as well as referring to the voluntary sector, GPs, community nursing and continence nurses.

The good news is there is more evidence now that medication management in combination with keeping people physically active and exercising, provides the best results and keeps patients living better and more independent lives for longer. 

More information on Parkinson’s can be found on the NHS website and on the Parkinson’s UK website