According to the report, people with Parkinson’s have unacceptably long waiting times for appointments and too often receive medication late, resulting in longer hospital stays.
In the most comprehensive analysis from the pre-pandemic era, the UK, which has Parkinson’s disease, found that many people are often left in the dark about how to manage their disease.
The charity said its results showed no progress since 2019 and deterioration in key areas, including early referral to therapeutic services.
The UK Parkinson Audit 2022 examined the quality and experience of care for 145,000 people living with the disease. A lack of collaborative care has been identified, meaning that people with the disease must find their way between the different professionals they need.
About 40 percent of people newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s either don’t get enough information about their condition or aren’t sure if they have, the same number as at the last audit in 2019.
And only 42 percent of hospitalized respondents always get their essential medicines on time, leading to worsening symptoms and longer hospital stays. Of those who did not always get their medication on time, almost 40 percent said it had a negative or very negative impact.
It is important to take medication on time so that the symptoms do not get out of control. Delaying medication can significantly increase a person’s need for care and lead to irreversible deterioration.
People with Parkinson’s also have to wait a long time for a therapist to make an appointment with. Only 45% of people with Parkinson’s have access to an occupational therapist, 62% to a physical therapist, and 40% to a speech therapist—all of whom are key members of the Parkinson’s treatment team.
While most patients see specialists within two months, waiting times over 18 weeks for their first physical therapist appointment increased from 7.9% in 2019 to 13.1% last year. The report says that this may be related to the pandemic.
Just under half of the patients were seen by an occupational therapist within four weeks of referral, with 12% exceeding the NHS target for “referral for treatment” and waiting no more than 18 weeks.
Parkinson’s UK said the report emphasizes that healthcare professionals must consistently apply standardized methods, guidelines and outcome measurements to reduce variability and improve the quality of care. It also highlighted the need for more knowledge about Parkinson’s disease and the latest science-based methods to help NHS staff provide the best possible care.
The charity said its 2019 report resulted in some improvements in care, including significant improvements in bone health assessment and management. People with Parkinson’s are more than twice as likely to develop osteoporosis and fractures than people without the disease, and managing their bone health helps them avoid fractures, which can be devastating.
Dr Rowan Wathes, Associate Director of the UK Parkinson’s Centre, said: “The review showed no progress or even deterioration in key areas including early referral to therapeutic services, waiting times, standardized assessments and treatment planning.
“Through the Parkinson’s Excellence Network, we work with healthcare professionals and people living with Parkinson’s disease to improve services where possible by funding nursing and therapist positions, providing educational resources, and supporting quality improvement projects. The audit shows how important our work is to people with Parkinson’s disease, many of whom, despite the rising cost of living, are struggling to keep warm and eat well, putting their health and well-being at additional risk.
“At the same time, NHS staff are challenged to provide quality Parkinson’s care in the face of growing demand, more complex care needs and staff shortages. Despite these challenges, the acceptance of the audit shows that the nurses, therapists, physicians and other healthcare professionals who make up the multidisciplinary Parkinson’s team are committed to providing the best possible service for people living with Parkinson’s disease.”
The most recent review reported treating 9,760 people with the condition for five months. Data was also collected from 506 clinical services across the UK, as well as the opinions of 6,795 people with Parkinson’s disease and their families, friends and caregivers, using a patient questionnaire.
The Department of Health, Welfare and Sports was asked to comment on the situation.
Source: I News
I’m Raymond Molina, a professional writer and journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. I currently work for 24 News Reporters, where I write for the health section of their news website. In my role, I am responsible for researching and writing stories on current health trends and issues. My articles are often seen as thought-provoking pieces that provide valuable insight into the state of society’s wellbeing.