'Get it on time' campaign - success stories

Since we started our 'Get it on time' campaign in April 2006, we continue to receive positive feedback from people with Parkinson's on improved hospital experiences.

The campaign has encouraged a number of hospitals to review the medicines' management processes they have in place for Parkinson's patients. The campaign also won the Ask About Medicines Awards for Excellence 2007 prize for improving communication between healthcare professionals and patients.

'Get it on time' is also on the radar of MPs and standards bodies. In its report ‘The best medicine – the management of medicines in acute and specialist trusts’, the Healthcare Commission said:

"The opportunity to self-administer should be offered to all suitable patients where timing of their medication is vital, in particular patients with Parkinson’s."

Improved hospital experiences

Yorkshire couple takes PCT to task

Grace and George Spencer of Barnsley are big supporters of the 'Get it on time' campaign and have been working hard to improve things in their local hospital.

Grace was admitted to hospital on one occasion for a chest infection and on the first day, was receiving her medication up to an hour late each time. This meant that her Parkinson's symptoms - usually controlled by the medication - got worse, so her body started to become rigid and it became difficult for her to control her movements. Subsequently, she became stressed and panicky, making her recovery much more difficult.

On Grace's discharge from hospital, George took the matter up with the board of the Primary Care Trust. It resulted in a partnership being struck between Boots the chemist and the hospital, to provide bum bags to patients with Parkinson's, to store their medication and administer it themselves.

Hunting for improvements

Members of our Huntingdonshire Branch have been working with Hinchingbrooke Hospital to improve medicines' management, focusing on Parkinson's awareness, prescription accuracy, access to medicines and timely medication.

The hospital has introduced a new drug chart with a different colour and design for people with Parkinson's to highlight the condition to ward staff. Ensuring the hospital is always well supplied with Parkinson's medication has also been a priority.

A self-medication pilot project is now in progress, where patients able to self-medicate are issued with a bum bag containing everything they need. Other patients are encouraged to help staff meet their needs by giving a nurse advance warning when they need their pills. This project is due to be rolled out to surgical wards.

John Davies, Huntingdonshire Branch member, said: "Getting medication on time is a very important issue for people with Parkinson's - coming out of hospital sicker than when you went in is no laughing matter.

"I think if every hospital does what Hinchingbrooke is doing, that would be a sizeable step forward for people with Parkinson's."

Posters prove positive

Lesley White, Parkinson's nurse, sent out 'Get it on time' posters and leaflets to ward staff at Stobhill Hospital and to several of the nursing and care homes in the Glasgow area.

Lesley said: "The policy is that I should be alerted whenever a person with Parkinson's is admitted. This seems to be happening more quickly since the materials were distributed."

Since the launch of the campaign the hospital has also begun looking into a self-medication procedure for people with Parkinson's.

An audit into the reasons why patients with Parkinson's miss their medication is also being carried out.

Getting stuck in

The 'Get it on time' stickers sent out with campaign packs have proved a useful resource for nurses around the country.

Liz Morgan, Parkinson's nurse based at Rookwood Hospital in Cardiff, has been using the yellow stickers on patients' notes to highlight to all ward staff that the person has Parkinson's and therefore may have specific medication requirements.

Her awareness-raising efforts have resulted in one ward at the hospital using alarms to remind staff when patients with Parkinson's are due medicine.

Liz said: "I've had very positive patient feedback so far. Medication is a vital part of patients' lives and one they're getting increasingly vocal about."

Top of the class

In Northern Ireland, 168 nurses so far have been taught the importance of medicines' management in a joint Parkinson's UK and Royal College of Nursing project. The project has to date included a series of workshops to teach nursing staff about Parkinson's. It will continue for the next 2 years.

A spokesperson from our Northern Ireland team, who organised the partnership, said: "It's too early to say if the workshops have been effective, but the feedback we've had from nurses who've attended so far is that they have found the workshops helpful."

Derek's experience

One man who had to cope with an extended stay in hospital after his Parkinson's medication was mismanaged in 2001 has found his recent visits to hospital much less stressful as he has been able to manage his own medication.

Derek's campaigning at Broomfield Hospital led to an increase in the number of lockers for patients able to self-medicate.

In addition a self-care manual for patients with Parkinson's was introduced, and a study day for ward staff was also held.

Share your success

We are always looking to share good practice examples from around the UK with other hospitals who are looking to improve their processes.

If you work in a hospital and have been auditing processes around the administration of Parkinson's medication or working to improve the experience of people with Parkinson's, we would love to hear from you.

If you want support to improve processes in your hospital, we can help. We can put you in contact with people with Parkinson's in your area and share examples of good practice from around the UK.

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