Parkinson's UK: Time critical medication resources for health professionals

Summary

Patients with Parkinson’s are at risk of significant harm if they don’t get their medication on time, every time. ‘On time’ means within 30 minutes of the patient’s prescribed time. Even short delays can worsen symptoms such as rigidity, pain and tremors, increasing the risk of falls. Over half of people with Parkinson’s don’t get their medications on time, every time in hospital. This leads to worse patient outcomes, longer recovery times and increased costs to the NHS.

Content

Parkinson’s UK is working collaboratively to improve the delivery of time critical Parkinson's medications and have a number of resources to support healthcare professionals: 

Self administration of Parkinson’s medication: a guide for hospital staff
This guide supports senior pharmacists and nurses who are working to develop a self administration policy or better utilise an existing policy to support the delivery of time critical medication. 

Time critical medication patients' stories: in their own words
In these short films, people with Parkinson’s share their experiences of receiving their Parkinson's medication in hospital and how this impacted on their health and well being. These films have been developed to raise awareness and support education and training of health professionals. 

Time critical medication: hospital awareness kit
This new collection of interactive posters, vibrant screensavers and social media graphics will help you to raise awareness of time critical Parkinson’s medication in your hospital. 

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.

Improving the delivery of time critical medications at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
A best practice case study showcasing a quality improvement project at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Further information, resources and training to support your work on time critical medications resources are available at www.parkinsons.org.uk/time-critical-medication-resources.