Our Policy Panel

Our Policy Panel - over 20 people with experience of Parkinson's - meets 4 times a year to help us form our official opinions on major public policy issues.

The experiences and views of people affected by Parkinson's is central to our policy work.

And until we have a clear policy on issues such as benefits reform, the way care is funded, prescription charges and stem cell research, we can't begin to campaign for change.

How the Policy Panel works

Vince Curnow, one of our Policy Panel members, explains the Panel's role:

"We discuss some of the major health, care and welfare issues that people with Parkinson's face and help guide the organisation towards a credible policy position on each issue.

"We don't claim to be experts in every topic of debate, but we all know what it is like to experience Parkinson's and what our local services are like.

"Our perspective means that the charity's policymaking gets a 'reality check' from people living with Parkinson's."

Current policy issues

Certain policy areas are a real focus of our attention at the moment. These include:

• Improving support for carers
• Welfare reform
• Social care reform
• Parkinson's and the debate on assisted suicide

Have an opinion you'd like to share?

We're not looking for any new Policy Panel members in England, Scotland or Wales at the moment after an overwhelming response to our last invitation.

However, we don't have any members in Northern Ireland. So we're keen to hear from anyone in Northern Ireland who would be interested in joining, even if you are not able to travel to meetings.

For more information, contact Caroline Weston, Parliamentary and Public Affairs Advisor, on 020 7932 1323 or email campaigns@parkinsons.org.uk

We're always interested to hear your opinion if you feel there's a policy area that needs our attention.

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