About our campaigning
Find out more about our work in Parliament and public policies, and see the real impact of our campaigning.
We know public services are failing people with Parkinson’s and we’re determined to improve them. This is why influencing and campaigning is at the heart of the work we do.
While change doesn't happen overnight, we’re proud to work with the Parkinson’s community and health and care professionals to share your experiences with politicians and NHS leaders and demand better.
Parliament, policies and partnerships
Parkinson's in Parliament
We work with elected representatives across the UK on a cross-party basis to make sure that the voices of people with Parkinson’s are heard across all levels of government. Find out more about Parkinson's UK in Parliament.
What we think
We influence public policy to benefit people with Parkinson's and carers. Read our policy statements and get involved in our Policy Panel.
Who we work with
We work with other charities, Royal Colleges, professional bodies and thinktanks in our campaigning work.
We are also members of various alliances and coalitions that bring charities together to improve health, care and benefit services for disabled people and those living with long-term conditions like Parkinson’s.
Find out more about the coalitions and alliances that we are members of:
Impact and achievements
Read our policy and campaigning impact report to understand how we've influenced improvements to services in 2024.
Over the last year, campaigners across the UK have been busy educating people about living with Parkinson's. This video highlights some of the things you've been involved in.
Our campaigning successes
UK government halts cuts and agrees to review PIP
The UK government has halted its plans to make it harder for people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
Following pressure from disabled people, including Parkinson's campaigners the government is reviewing the PIP assessment, including eligibility criteria, alongside health charities like us and those living with long-term health conditions, who have been through the PIP assessment. It’s expected the review will report in Autumn 2026.
NHS England programme launched to improve delivery of time critical medication
Getting foslevodopa-foscarbidopa approved and funded for use in the NHS
Following our work, the NHS in England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland have agreed to fund a new treatment foslevodopa-foscarbidopa (also called Produodopa) for people who experience movement related symptoms.
We shared testimonies from people with Parkinson's and care partners who were involved in a clinical trial about the therapy with NICE and the SMC, who assesses whether treatments and technologies are clinically and cost-effective for use in the NHS.
We also nominated a person with Parkinson's and their care partner to present evidence to the committee, making the decision about the treatment. They shared their experience of the therapy, which had been life-changing.
NHS England publishes diagnosis rates of Lewy body dementia
After joint campaigning with other charities, NHS England has published data on the rate of Lewy body dementia diagnosis. We've been calling for this welcome step to improve care.
The new data will help NHS staff understand how many people are affected by the condition and better plan their care. But it shows that diagnosis rates for Lewy body dementia need to improve.
Securing a national clinical director for neurology in England
We joined with other neurological charities to call on the NHS England Medical Director, Professor Steven Powis, to put in place a national clinical director to strengthen clinical leadership for neurology across the NHS.
Our joint charity letter and influencing behind the scenes was successful, as 2 clinical directors have been appointed for the NHS in England: one for neurology and one for neurosurgery.
Getting opicapone funded by the NHS in Scotland and Wales
Following our support, the NHS in Scotland and Wales agreed to fund opicapone, a COMT inhibitor that helps levodopa medication to work more effectively.
We shared testimonies from people with Parkinson's who had used the medication, and this helped the Scottish Medicines Consortium and the All Wales Medicines Strategy Group to approve the drug for use on the NHS.
Improving the packaging of medicines
Using the experiences people with Parkinson's shared with us on our forum and social media, we targeted pharmaceutical companies which needed to improve their packaging, so that people could access their medicine.
We also contacted the medicines regulator to raise our concerns, and it wrote to the pharma companies urging them to make changes to their packaging.
2 companies have made changes to their packaging, so it's easier for people with the condition to access their medicines.