Dr Neil Hudson MP has given his support to Parkinson’s UK’s calls to ensure people with Parkinson’s get their medication on time, every time, when in hospital.
People with Parkinson’s rely on their time critical medication. A delay of as little as 30 minutes can mean the difference between functioning well and possibly being unable to move, walk, talk or swallow.
Dr Hudson met with Parkinson's UK in Parliament to discuss the charity’s Get It On Time campaign. The campaign highlights that only 42% of people with Parkinson's received their medication on time when admitted to hospital in England last year.
- He heard from members of the Parkinson’s community about the impact not receiving medication on time while in hospital has had on them or a loved one.
- They discussed how Parkinson’s is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world, and currently there is no cure. It affects around 253 people in Penrith and The Border.
- They also discussed what steps the NHS should take to address workforce gaps and waiting times in light of the NHS Long Term workforce plan.
Data from Freedom of Information requests sent to NHS Hospital Trusts in England by Parkinson’s UK found:
- Just half (52%) of NHS Trusts provide training on time-critical medication to staff.
- One in four NHS Trusts in England do not have policies that allow people to take their own medication when admitted to hospital.
- NHS Trusts are not required to monitor or report missed or delayed doses of medication, and therefore unaware of the need to take action.
Dr Hudson also heard that the charity is offering practical solutions to tackle this crisis, and that this is not just an issue for people with Parkinson’s, there are other conditions that require medication to be taken at specific times. That’s why Diabetes UK, Epilepsy Action, National AIDS Trust, Royal College of Emergency Medicine, The Richmond Group, Royal Pharmaceutical Society, and Rethink Mental Illness, are joining Parkinson’s UK in calling on the Government to:
- Have self-administration of medication policies in every hospital across each ward (where safe to), so that patients who are able to take their own medication on time can do so.
- Boost the rollout of e-prescribing in hospitals to alert staff when medication is due and use it to monitor and report on missed or delayed doses.
- Train all hospital ward staff responsible for prescribing and administering medication to ensure people reliant on time critical medication get their medication on time, every time.
Dr Neil Hudson MP said:
“Listening to Clare and Vicki from Parkinson's UK talk about this issue shows that we have a long way to go to ensure they get the support they need.
“With my veterinary clinical background, I know with key medicines every minute counts and I look forward to help improving Parkinson's medication provision moving forward. As a result of this meeting, I am committed more than ever to supporting my constituents with this disease and the wider Parkinson's community."
Laura Cockram, Head of Policy and Campaigns at Parkinson’s UK, said:
“We want to thank Dr Neil Hudson MP for speaking to us about issues that people living with Parkinson’s face, including our Get It On Time campaign, and challenges accessing the right healthcare staff to support them in Penrith and The Border.
“We’re here to work with the NHS and the Government to make sure people who depend on time critical medication see hospitals as safe places to be. It is time to act now.
“We hope our discussions with Dr Hudson will take us one step closer to improving health and care services for people with Parkinson’s.”
For further information about the campaign visit www.parkinsons.org.uk/get-it-on-time and to read the joint statement visit parkinsons.org.uk/time-critical-statement
To find out more about Parkinson’s UK visit www.parkinsons.org.uk
