Helpline: 0808 800 0303

Protect Parkinson's nurses campaign in England

Financial pressure across the NHS in England is threatening Parkinson's nurse posts. Together we can fight to protect front-line Parkinson's nurses from cuts.

Use our simple email template to tell your PCT that Parkinson's nurses save money.

Help us protect our existing nurses

Lisa, Parkinson's nurse, with placard 'I'm on the front line' and Sheena, who has Parkinson's, with placard 'I must have my nurse'Take part in our campaign by sending the email above. You'll be helping us protect our existing nurses and make clear to NHS decision-makers that cutting Parkinson's nurses would be a false economy.

The decision-makers who have this power are local NHS managers and commissioners.

They work either in primary care trusts (PCTs) or the new GP groups that are being established as part of the reform of the NHS in England.

Parkinson's nurses can stop people with Parkinson's from having to go into hospital and they reduce the time needed by the consultant.

This means that Parkinson's nurses make a vital contribution to the savings that currently need to be made across the NHS.

Image above: Lisa, Parkinson's nurse, and Sheena, who has Parkinson's

Threats to Parkinson's nurse services

Financial pressures across the NHS in England have created risks to Parkinson's nurse posts in England.

I've had excellent support from a Parkinson's nurse that has now been withdrawn. I’m really worried about what the future will hold.

Paul, who has Parkinson's

We surveyed Parkinson's nurses in England in March 2011. 27% of nurses who responded have had to change the way they work. This includes:

  • stopping home visits where they care for the most vulnerable and high need patients
  • being required to work as general nurses back on the ward
  • removing administrative support so there is less time to see patients

Losing community-based Parkinson's nurses could cost the NHS in England £19.5million in increased admissions to hospital and demand on consultant time.

Losing hospital-based Parkinson's nurses might cost the NHS in England up to £15.6million in longer time spent in hospital.

Employing an extra 60 nurses would provide adequate access across England and could save the NHS up to £7.1million.

More information is available in our campaigning document Protect Parkinson's nurses in England and save the NHS money (PDF, 605KB).

Add your comments to our map

Add your comments to our map and help us show what a difference Parkinson's nurses make.

Tell us what your Parkinson's nurse means to you. Or tell us why you need one.


In this section

If you're in the rest of the UK

In Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales we're not seeing the same threat to Parkinson's nurse posts. But we still need more nurses.

If you're in Wales, tell your Assembly Members about the importance of Parkinson's nurses.

And everyone in the UK can add comments to our map. Help us show what a difference Parkinson's nurses make.