Almost two thirds of the Parkinson’s nurses working today across the UK were initially funded by us, thanks to your donations.
When you live with a complex condition like Parkinson's, you need access to local specialists who understand the condition. Health professionals like specialist Parkinson's nurses are a lifeline for people with Parkinson's and their families. They help people to manage their medication, make referrals to other professionals, and are a continuous point of contact.
Since 1996, we’ve invested more than £15 million into funding, training and supporting Parkinson’s nurses. But with 1 in 5 people with Parkinson's with limited or no access to this support, and a third of Parkinson's nurses set to retire by 2030, more nurses and specialists are needed. That's why we've launched our Nurse Appeal.
New Parkinson's nurses and specialists are created through a process called pump priming. We fund the first 2 years of the role, giving the NHS time to make it a regular part of their services. After the first 2 years, the NHS funds the role, but we work with them to make sure it continues to be a success.
100% of the roles we initially fund are sustainably funded by the NHS.
Over the last 30 years, we've provided initial funding for 338 Parkinson's nurses across the UK. That's two thirds of the specialist nurse workforce.
Without support from people like you, people with Parkinson’s would not have access to this specialist care.
"Parkinson's nurses support people in their own home and in the clinic. That could be medication advice, it could be symptom advice, but it's also getting involved with families to support them as well.
"I would not be in post without donations from people like yourself."
Nick, Parkinson's Nurse
"[My Parkinson's nurse] didn't just know Parkinson's, they knew me. They explained what the medication was doing. What was happening in my body.
"For the first time, things made sense."
Hema, living with Parkinson's
We want to raise £9 million over 3 years to increase the number of Parkinson’s specialists. Every donation will help fund more nurses, specialists, and training.
