Write a commentParkinson’s UK Northern Ireland are inviting people affected by the condition to a workshop on Thursday 4 July in Antrim.
Senior Campaigns and Communications Officer, Caroline McEvoy said: “At the workshop we will be gathering evidence of issues affecting people with Parkinson’s, their families and friends across NI.”
“One of the main concerns we will be focussing on is people getting their medication on time, every time in hospital.”
Parkinson's is a degenerative neurological condition, for which there currently is no cure. It affects over 3700 people in Northern Ireland and 148,000 people in the UK - around one in 350 of the adult population - and the main symptoms are tremor, slowness of movement and rigidity.
Medication routines can be complex and as Parkinson’s is a progressive condition, these routines need to be reviewed and adjusted to maintain their benefits.
The Get It On Time campaign was launched by Parkinson’s UK in 2006 to ensure everyone with Parkinson’s in a care home or hospital gets their medication on time, every time.
The timely delivery of medication can be as crucial in managing Parkinson’s as insulin is for those with diabetes. But the latest audit from Parkinson’s UK, carried out in 2017, shows that less than half of people admitted to hospital always got their Parkinson's medication at the right time.
Timely access to medication is essential in Parkinson’s; without medication, people with Parkinson’s can lose their ability to manage their symptoms and someone can go from being mobile and articulate to unable to move, get out of bed or speak. The difference between these medicated and un-medicated states is often referred to as being ‘on’ or ‘off’.
Not getting medication on time can also have long-term implications – we have heard devastating stories of people permanently losing the ability to walk after a hospital stay. For those who do recover, it can take months before they feel in control of their symptoms again.
The event will take place at Clotworthy House in Antrim from 10.30am to 12.30pm and booking is essential.
For more information or to reserve a space contact Caroline McEvoy at cmcevoy@parkinsons.org.uk or call 07738091899.
