I'm shining a light on Parkinson's and the importance of receiving medication on time

Nicola Asher, a volunteer with Parkinson’s UK on their campaigns to help improve treatments and services, visited Sunderland Royal Hospital as part of World Parkinson’s Day on April 11.

As part of the visit, which she arranged with Ken Bremner, chief executive of South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, Nicola and other members of the charity talked with hospital staff about the importance of the national campaign ‘Get It On Time’.

Parkinson’s is on the rise, affecting around 166,000 people in the UK, and the campaign stresses the importance of people with the disease getting their medication on time every time.

Charity figures show over half of people with the condition nationally don’t get their medications on time in hospital. This can cause stress, anxiety, immobility, severe tremors, and in some extreme cases death.

Nicola said: “Ken and his team at Sunderland Royal Hospital have been incredibly supportive to arrange my visit to highlight the importance of those with Parkinson’s to receive their medication on time to avoid making their symptoms worse.

“It was also amazing to have The Right Worshipful the Mayor of the City of Sunderland, Councillor Ehthesham Haque, and his wife to come along to the event to add their support.

“It’s been brilliant chatting to so many hospital staff about World Parkinson’s Day and shining a light on the challenges faced along with the support that’s available.”

The Sunderland branch support group also arranged for local buildings to be lit blue on April 11 as part of the charity’s campaign, including Penshaw Monument, Keel Square, Northern Spire bridge, Meik’s Lighthouse, Fulwell Mill and Sunderland Royal Hospital.

Moving treatment and care forward

Ken Bremner MBE, Chief Executive of the Trust, said: "We're grateful to Parkinson's UK for organising this event to help highlight the work which goes in to support those with Parkinson's.

“Our team has an excellent reputation with our patients for the work they do. They have also brought in innovations to help move forward treatment and care, which is so important in supporting those we look after."

Dr Uma Nath, Consultant Neurologist who specialises in Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and works with a team of PD specialists at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We are pleased to have welcomed Nicola to our Trust as she supports the work to help those who suffer from Parkinson's, and their friends and family.

“World Parkinson's Day helps raise awareness of this condition and everything that is being done to find better treatments. It is thanks to research and the development of new medicines that we are now able to offer more of these to those in the more complex phases of the illness, which can help them live better."

She added:"We have also done a lot of work in our hospitals around 'Get It On Time', which has been led by Dr Fionnuala Johnston. In our last round of audit, over 90% of doses of medicines for Parkinson's were given on time Trust wide, showing year on year improvement.

“We are also piloting the self-administration of Parkinson's medicines on some of our wards, giving people with Parkinson's greater control of their condition during their hospital stay. We know that giving our patients their treatment at the right moment is vital in making sure their symptoms are managed and their recovery is supported. It is good to see these important messages being shared more widely."

To find out more about Parkinson’s and World Parkinson’s Day head to the Parkinson’s UK website: parkinsons.org.uk