People with Parkinson's 'lack vital drugs'

Published on Tuesday 15 June 2010 21:19

HUNDREDS of people with Parkinson's disease do not receive vital medication necessary to combat their condition on time in health boards right across Scotland, campaigners have warned.

And the lack of better control of the disease in Scotland is sending many into care homes unnecessarily, said Parkinson's UK as it laid a petition before the Scottish Parliament calling for better health board policies to manage the medication.

The group said delays in taking medication led to a worsening of the disease's symptoms that could take weeks to bring under control.

The group said the problem was caused by bureaucracy and lack of awareness among ward staff about the implications of delays in medicating people with the condition.

It has warned that some people are not allowed to self-medicate when in hospital, or staff shortages mean medication routines are disrupted.

Yesterday, Parkinson's UK urged the MSPs on the public petitions' committee to pressure the Scottish Government to take action to address their concerns. The MSPs have pledged to carry out a fact-finding mission to determine the scale of the problem, as well as writing to ministers and nursing groups asking them to explain their policies when dealing with Parkinson's.

Backed by about 70 people with the disease observing the committee, Tanith Muller, of Parkinson's UK, said the problem was "an enormous issue".

She told MSPs: "Over a quarter of the 10,000 Scots with Parkinson's are admitted to hospital each year, many of them on more than one occasion.

"We conservatively estimate that about 800 of them don't get their medication on time while they are there. We hear it consistently in every single health board in Scotland.

"We know that people with Parkinson's who live alone sometimes need help to maintain their medication regime. If they can't get their medication, people are being admitted to care homes for the want of better symptom control. And once there, they still may struggle to get their medication on time."

Ms Muller questioned whether it was a good use of resources to keep people in hospital or a care home instead of developing better medication control. She said health boards should develop policies with hospital staff so they understood some people with Parkinson's needed additional support.

Also appearing at the committee, Gerry McCann, of the Lightburn Support Group within Parkinson's UK, said: "Our biggest concern is that everyone should have the right to have their drugs taken on time, whether it be in the home or in the hospital environment."

Nationalist MSP Anne McLaughlin, who said she had experience of dealing with Parkinson's within her family, said: "I'm absolutely behind you 100 per cent on this. It is absolutely vital that people are allowed to self-administer."