Care Minister receives our petition for fair care at parliamentary event

18 November 2010

Our Fair Care for Parkinson's petition, signed by over 14,000 people, was presented to the Government at a parliamentary reception event attended by Care Services Minister, Paul Burstow yesterday.

Paul Burstow said: "I very much welcome the Fair Care for Parkinson's petition. We need to make sure that people with Parkinson's aren't solely defined by their Parkinson's - that they are human beings first. They need the proper support to be able to lead lives as rich as anyone else, because that’s what anyone deserves.

"I look forward to both the challenge from Parkinson's UK - the petition being a symbol of that - and also the collaboration with Parkinson's UK.

"Because by working together we really can deliver the changes that make a difference for the people that you serve and that I serve too."

Baroness Gale, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Parkinson's and Parkinson's UK chief executive Steve Ford also spoke at the event hosted by Mark Hunter MP, in the House of Commons.

The petition

Our petition has been calling on the Government and decision-makers to protect Parkinson's services and make sure people with the condition get quality care that meets national standards - wherever they live.

Ministers must give clear direction on the implementation of national guidelines for Parkinson's and provide a framework for people to hold their local services to account.

Parkinson's UK is increasingly concerned about threats to care, despite Health Minister Andrew Lansley repeatedly committing to the protection of frontline health and social care services, severe cuts to local authority budgets could have a devastating effect on social care, which many people with Parkinson's rely on.

Derek Ward, 70, from Rushden, Northamptonshire has had Parkinson's for 5 years. He presented the petition to Paul Burstow at the event.

Pictured, Derek and Delia Ward with Paul Burstow MP (centre)

Derek said:

"I am proud to be handing our Fair Care for Parkinson's petition to the Minister. As someone who lives with Parkinson's every day I know that quality health and social care is vital.

"At the moment, there are huge differences in the services available depending on where you live in the UK. That's why it is so important that we're taking our campaign directly to the Government."

Quality services will save public money

Steve Ford, Chief Executive of Parkinson's UK said:

"Essential services like specialist Parkinson's nurses, therapists and respite care save money and make a huge difference to quality of life for people with Parkinson's. It’s a false economy to cut services that help people stay independent and keep them out of hospital and care homes.

"We hope that our petition makes clear to the Government that the best way for it to save money is to deliver quality services where and when people need them."

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