Welsh Health Minister meets local Parkinson's nurse
3 February 2012
Yesterday, the Welsh Government Health Minister
and Assembly Member for Wrexham, Lesley Griffiths, met the
specialist Parkinson's nurse she helped to get appointed last
year.
Vital support
Parkinson's nurse Val Coleman has been in post since 2011.
She supports the 250 people with Parkinson's throughout the Wrexham area.
Val met the Minister along with 20 local people affected by
Parkinson's, who have benefitted from the nurse services since Val
was appointed.
Jim Redmond from Wrexham, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's in
2007, praised Val’s hard work in his speech:
"Val is always there to help. She has great knowledge and quite
simply nothing is too much for her."
Image: Lesley Griffiths AM with Harry Prankard from
our Wrexham and North East Wales
Branch
Expertise, advice and emotional support
Working alongside other Parkinson's
nurses in hospitals in Mold and Deeside, Val holds specialist
clinics. These provide medical expertise, practical advice and
emotional support to people with Parkinson's, as well as their
carers, family and friends.
Being able to access services locally reduces the need for
people with Parkinson's to travel long distances, often to Walton
or Chester in England.
And Parkinson's nurses can save money for their local NHS by
reducing the cost of unnecessary hospital admissions and expensive
appointments with consultants.
'Bringing care closer to home'
Wrexham is a fantastic example of the huge difference a Parkinson's nurse can make.
It's a big step forward for people who have campaigned for years for a nurse.
Aileen Napier, our Wales manager
The Health Minister, Lesley Griffiths, commented:
"As an Assembly Member (AM), I could see the benefit a
Parkinson's nurse would bring to patients.
"As Health Minister, I am pleased to see this is a benefit not
only for the patients, but to the Welsh Government, helping us
reach our goal of bringing care closer to home."
A Parkinson's nurse can make a huge difference
Aileen Napier, our Wales Manager, added:
"Wrexham is a fantastic example of the huge difference a
Parkinson's nurse can make.
"It's a big step forward for people who have campaigned for
years in the area for a dedicated Parkinson's nurse.
"We will continue to campaign for
increased access to these specialist nurses across Wales."
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