Breakthrough for 'Get it on time' after 4 years of campaigning

3 March 2010

Our 'Get it on time' campaign has been named as a best practice campaign in an important National Patient Safety Agency report

Parkinson's medication has been cited in one of the Agency's key reports as one of a group of medicines where strict procedures must be followed to make sure people get their medication as prescribed.

Our 'Get it on time' awareness-raising campaign is used as an example of how hospitals can be supported to put these procedures into practice.

Getting medication on time

Val Buxton, our Director of Policy and Campaigns, comments:

"We hear regularly from people with Parkinson's who haven't been able to get their medication on time in hospital.

"This can have a huge impact on their ability to function and is very distressing. It can also greatly increase their care needs.

"We're pleased the National Patient Safety Agency has recognised how important this issue is.

"We're really keen to support hospitals to implement the Agency's recommendations. And we have some great resources that can help healthcare providers make sure people with Parkinson's get their medication on time, every time."

A real life story

Sylvia cares for her husband Derek (75), who was diagnosed with Parkinson's 8 years ago.

Late last year, Derek went into hospital for 11 days for a knee operation. Derek's Parkinson's medication was not given on time. As as a result, his symptoms became unmanageable.

Derek has had hallucinations since being discharged, his sleeping patterns are completely random, and his quality of life has deteriorated.

He has also had to have his medication changed to try and control his symptoms again.

This has caused great stress for both Sylvia and Derek. They are still going through a complaints process with the hospital.

Sylvia says:

"Since Derek was discharged, he has had hallucinations, and his Parkinson's symptoms have been severe. This has not improved tremendously over the months since the time in the hospital.

"It has made this period very stressful for me, and affected both our lives."

Resources for people affected by Parkinson's and healthcare professionals

We have a number of free publications and resources to support our 'Get it on time' campaign - as well as a range of other useful publications.

• Free publications and resources about going into hospital for people with Parkinson's.
• Free publications and resources for health and social care professionals who work with people affected by Parkinson's

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