The Department of Health wants to hear your opinions about the future of social care in England. The consultation Caring for our future: shared ambitions for care and support ends on Friday 2 December 2011.
Then in April 2012, the Department of Health will publish a report with their recommendations for the future of social care in England.
We know how important social care can be for people affected by Parkinson's, be it at home, or in a community setting such as residential care. But people are often going without the support they need or facing catastrophic care bills because the system is means tested.
So whether you're a person with Parkinson's, a carer, a health or social care professional or anyone else affected by social care it's crucial you have your say now.
We're seeking opinions from our staff, members and supporters to make sure the views of people affected by Parkinson's are represented. If you want us to include your views, contact Donna O'Brien, Social Policy and Campaigns Officer, on dobrien@parkinsons.org.uk
You can also give your views directly to the Department of Health.
We also want to hear your stories about social care. Tell us about your experiences below or email pr@parkinsons.org.uk
Raising awareness of impulsive and compulsive behaviour
We are committed to raising awareness of impulsive and compulsive behaviour, as part of our ongoing campaign.
This week 4 people with Parkinson's have settled their claims against GlaxoSmithKline – who manufacture several types of Parkinson's drugs – following them developing impulsive or compulsive behaviour after taking the dopamine agonist, ReQuip.
As their behaviour went unchecked, it escalated to very serious and life-changing levels. Solicitors, Leigh Day & Co – who attended our first impulsive and compulsive behaviour steering group in January 2011 – argued that due to warnings not being included with the drugs until March 2007, no link could be made between their behaviour and the drug. Therefore, the manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline, was liable.
This recognition of the severity and, in many cases, devastating nature of impulsive and compulsive behaviour is a huge step forward.
Dopamine agonists help many thousands of people with the condition across the world but this case serves to highlight the huge importance of having accurate information about the potential risks they carry.
We are committed to making sure everyone affected by impulsive and compulsive behaviour has the information they need to make an informed choice, before the consequences become too serious.
Do you have experience of impulsive and compulsive behaviour? Would you like to join our campaign? Tell us your views on pr@parkinsons.org.uk
This week 4 people with Parkinson's have settled their claims against GlaxoSmithKline – who manufacture several types of Parkinson's drugs – following them developing impulsive or compulsive behaviour after taking the dopamine agonist, ReQuip.
As their behaviour went unchecked, it escalated to very serious and life-changing levels. Solicitors, Leigh Day & Co – who attended our first impulsive and compulsive behaviour steering group in January 2011 – argued that due to warnings not being included with the drugs until March 2007, no link could be made between their behaviour and the drug. Therefore, the manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline, was liable.
This recognition of the severity and, in many cases, devastating nature of impulsive and compulsive behaviour is a huge step forward.
Dopamine agonists help many thousands of people with the condition across the world but this case serves to highlight the huge importance of having accurate information about the potential risks they carry.
We are committed to making sure everyone affected by impulsive and compulsive behaviour has the information they need to make an informed choice, before the consequences become too serious.
Do you have experience of impulsive and compulsive behaviour? Would you like to join our campaign? Tell us your views on pr@parkinsons.org.uk
Pharmacists learn how to 'Get it on time'
Our 'Get it on time' campaign has been a great success across the UK and has even been used abroad in Canada and the USA.
While people with Parkinson's are at the heart of the campaign, those healthcare professionals working with people with the condition are integral to its success, such as GPs, hospital and community nurses and community pharmacists.
We recently met with the Department of Health's Chief Pharmacist Martin Stephens and Jonathan Mason, to talk about the campaign reinforcing how important it is for people with Parkinson's to get their medication on time and what part pharmacists can play in this.
After the meeting, Martin Stephens wrote a fantastic blog and Jonathan Mason appeared in an online film for Chemist and Druggist (C+D) magazine's website.
Both highlighted C+D's 41,000 unique users – of which the majority are community pharmacists – about the importance of supporting people with Parkinson's to get their medication on time and some of the great work already taking place in hospitals and pharmacies across the country.
In particular, the pieces focus on the vital importance of listening to people with Parkinson's, their families and carers and finding out what support they need to get their medication on time.
How supportive is your pharmacist? Do they know enough about Parkinson's? Tell us your experiences by emailing pr@parkinsons.org.uk
While people with Parkinson's are at the heart of the campaign, those healthcare professionals working with people with the condition are integral to its success, such as GPs, hospital and community nurses and community pharmacists.
We recently met with the Department of Health's Chief Pharmacist Martin Stephens and Jonathan Mason, to talk about the campaign reinforcing how important it is for people with Parkinson's to get their medication on time and what part pharmacists can play in this.
After the meeting, Martin Stephens wrote a fantastic blog and Jonathan Mason appeared in an online film for Chemist and Druggist (C+D) magazine's website.
Both highlighted C+D's 41,000 unique users – of which the majority are community pharmacists – about the importance of supporting people with Parkinson's to get their medication on time and some of the great work already taking place in hospitals and pharmacies across the country.
In particular, the pieces focus on the vital importance of listening to people with Parkinson's, their families and carers and finding out what support they need to get their medication on time.
How supportive is your pharmacist? Do they know enough about Parkinson's? Tell us your experiences by emailing pr@parkinsons.org.uk
Feel inspired? Come and join us on the overseas trip of a lifetime
Congratulations to our victorious 15-strong team of trekkers reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania at the weekend.
Our team climbed 5,895 metres to reach the peak of Africa’s highest mountain. They've raised £60,000 so far with money still pouring in.
Have you ever dreamed of cycling through Vietnam and Cambodia, trekking through Jordan or exploring The Lost City of Machu Picchu? Come and join us next year on an overseas trip of a lifetime.
We will be going to Trek Jordan 7-15 April 2012; Trek Peru 21-30 September 2012; and Cycle Vietnam to Cambodia 14-25 November 2012.
If you're interested in finding out about what to expect on an overseas trip or have any questions, come along to our next Overseas Events Information Day on Saturday 11 February 2012 at our head office in London.
Fundraiser Roddy Lee, age 56, from Letchworth in Hertfordshire was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2007. He has trekked both in the Sahara and Nepal for us.
Watch a short film of Trek Nepal made by Roddy.
If you can’t make it to the open day but would like to find out more, give our Events team a call on 020 7932 1328 or email events@parkinsons.org.uk
Do you feel inspired? Come and join us!
Our team climbed 5,895 metres to reach the peak of Africa’s highest mountain. They've raised £60,000 so far with money still pouring in.
Have you ever dreamed of cycling through Vietnam and Cambodia, trekking through Jordan or exploring The Lost City of Machu Picchu? Come and join us next year on an overseas trip of a lifetime.
We will be going to Trek Jordan 7-15 April 2012; Trek Peru 21-30 September 2012; and Cycle Vietnam to Cambodia 14-25 November 2012.
If you're interested in finding out about what to expect on an overseas trip or have any questions, come along to our next Overseas Events Information Day on Saturday 11 February 2012 at our head office in London.
Fundraiser Roddy Lee, age 56, from Letchworth in Hertfordshire was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2007. He has trekked both in the Sahara and Nepal for us.
Watch a short film of Trek Nepal made by Roddy.
If you can’t make it to the open day but would like to find out more, give our Events team a call on 020 7932 1328 or email events@parkinsons.org.uk
Do you feel inspired? Come and join us!
Many nurses 'expecting to lose job'
Findings from an employment poll released last week by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) worryingly state that some 15,000 nurses and healthcare assistants expect to be made redundant in the next 12 months.
The survey of around 8,000 staff included more than 6,000 nurses and healthcare assistants working in the NHS, and demonstrates the growing impact the current financial squeeze is having on the healthcare service.
In addition to recruitment freezes, unfilled posts and ward closures, more than half of nurses (52%) said they were now too busy to provide the level of care they would like, with 32% saying the quality of patient care is going down.
Nurses are also working extra hours. 57% say they do so each shift, or at least several times a week.
We welcome the news that the RCN has tabled an amendment calling for guaranteed safe staffing levels in advance of the decision on the Health and Social Care Bill, which is being made today in the House of Lords, and we anticipate the outcome.
Our Protect Parkinson's nurses campaign which launched in July is designed to protect and grow the vital front line work that specialist Parkinson's nurses carry out across the UK. These statistics are therefore concerning when considering the impact that cuts or reduced staffing would have for people with Parkinson's.
Despite the Government wanting to protect services, should future cuts be implemented, we are likely to see patients experiencing longer waiting times, poor care and a worse NHS system. This will have a devastating impact on anyone affected by Parkinson's.
You can support our ongoing campaign to protect the vital frontline services of Parkinson's nurses by visiting parkinsons.org.uk/faircare
What do you think about the threat to nurse positions? Share your views with us.
The survey of around 8,000 staff included more than 6,000 nurses and healthcare assistants working in the NHS, and demonstrates the growing impact the current financial squeeze is having on the healthcare service.
In addition to recruitment freezes, unfilled posts and ward closures, more than half of nurses (52%) said they were now too busy to provide the level of care they would like, with 32% saying the quality of patient care is going down.
Nurses are also working extra hours. 57% say they do so each shift, or at least several times a week.
We welcome the news that the RCN has tabled an amendment calling for guaranteed safe staffing levels in advance of the decision on the Health and Social Care Bill, which is being made today in the House of Lords, and we anticipate the outcome.
Our Protect Parkinson's nurses campaign which launched in July is designed to protect and grow the vital front line work that specialist Parkinson's nurses carry out across the UK. These statistics are therefore concerning when considering the impact that cuts or reduced staffing would have for people with Parkinson's.
Despite the Government wanting to protect services, should future cuts be implemented, we are likely to see patients experiencing longer waiting times, poor care and a worse NHS system. This will have a devastating impact on anyone affected by Parkinson's.
You can support our ongoing campaign to protect the vital frontline services of Parkinson's nurses by visiting parkinsons.org.uk/faircare
What do you think about the threat to nurse positions? Share your views with us.
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