Summary
Parkinson’s is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world. It can affect young or old, and in the UK, around 145,000 people are living with the condition. With population growth and ageing, this figure is estimated to increase by 20%, within the next ten years. At the moment, there is no cure for Parkinson’s, but medication plays a vital role in managing symptoms and preventing deterioration.
People with Parkinson’s face a number of specific patient safety issues when accessing healthcare including communication difficulties and risks associated with medication delays.
In this blog, Patient Safety Learning has pulled together 11 useful resources about Parkinson’s shared on the hub. They include guidance for patients and their families about hospital stays and medication, and awareness-raising resources for healthcare professionals about the patient safety issues people with Parkinson’s face.
Content
1. Keeping patients with Parkinson’s safe in hospital: 4 key actions for staff
Dr Rowan Wathes, Associate Director of the Parkinson's Excellence Network at Parkinson's UK, recommends four key actions that healthcare workers can take to improve safety for people with Parkinson’s while they are in hospital.
2. Preparing to go into hospital – tips for people with Parkinson's and their carers
In this blog, Laura Cockram, Head of Policy and Campaigning at Parkinson's UK, talks about how people with Parkinson’s can prepare their medication to go into hospital.
3. Professionals with Parkinson’s tackle time critical patient safety issue
Sam Freeman Carney, Health Policy and Improvement Lead at Parkinson's UK, explains how critical it is that people with Parkinson’s get their medication on time and how, on World Parkinson’s Day in 2022, a group of healthcare professionals who live with Parkinson’s themselves decided to take action.
4. Time critical medication guides for health professionals
The Parkinson’s Excellence Network has produced three practical guides to support UK health professionals to deliver time critical Parkinson’s medication on time in hospital: a guide for NHS ward staff, a guide for hospital pharmacists and a swallowing guide for the nurse in charge and ward staff.
5. Electronic prescribing: how it can improve the delivery of time critical medications
This resource describes how NHS Ayrshire & Arran hospitals improved their rates for administering patients' Parkinson's medications on time, sharing case studies and tips on how other hospitals might be able to replicate their successful e-prescribing system.
A best practice case study showcasing a quality improvement project at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
7. Ask the expert: How to spot fake Parkinson’s medicines online
Falsified, fake or counterfeit medicines are medicines disguising themselves as authentic, and they can pose significant health risks. This blog highlights the issue of counterfeit Parkinson's medications being sold illegally online. Mike Isles, Executive Director of the Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacy in the EU describes their high prevalence and gives tips for people with Parkinson's on how to stay safe when buying medicines online.
This tool from the Parkinson's Association of Ireland allows people with Parkinson's to record their essential medical information in an easy to access format, should they need assistance or medical treatment.
9. Parkinson's awareness: a 15-minute online presentation for ward staff
This 15-minute training video by the Parkinson's Excellence Network pulls together the key symptoms and issues that can affect a person with Parkinson's and their care when admitted to a hospital ward. It aims to help ward staff understand the most important considerations when caring for people with Parkinson's.
10. Medication delays: A huge risk for inpatients with Parkinson’s
This blog examines the serious health implications of delayed medication in people with Parkinson’s. It highlights evidence that this is a widespread safety issue and outlines the challenges, barriers and solutions to ensuring patients receive their medication on time.
11. Parkinson's UK: Involving everyone in improving management of inpatients in Leeds
Inspired by a letter from the wife of a patient with Parkinson’s, Consultant Neurologist Jane Alty and colleagues started the 'Improving care of patients with Parkinson’s quality improvement project' at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. In this article, Jane talks about the successes and challenges of the project and the value of involving staff from across the organisation and carers to make services better.
Have your say
- Are you a healthcare professional who works with people with Parkinson’s? We would love to hear your insights and share resources you have developed.
- Do you have, or do you care for someone with Parkinson’s? Please share your experience of health and care services with us.
We would love to hear from you!
- Comment below (register for free here first).
- Get in touch with us directly to share your insights.
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