Speech & Language Therapy Pathway

Guidance on psychological interventions for people with Parkinson's

• Provided by The British Psychological Society in partnership with Lancaster University.

This evidence-based guidance outlines evidence-based recommendations for professionals providing psychological support to individuals living with Parkinson's.

View Guidance on psychological interventions.

Progressive Neurological Disorders: Clinical guidance

• Provided by Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT).

Log in required for full guidance.

Access Progressive Neurological Disorders: Clinical guidance.

Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen (ECAS)

• Developed by Sharon Abrahams, Thomas Bak and Judy Newton.

The ECAS is a brief multidomain assessment originally designed for people with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS/Motor Neurone Disease) but is also useful in other neurodegenerative disorders.

View Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen (ECAS).

Allied Health Professionals’ competency framework for progressive neurological conditions

• Produced in partnership and sponsored by MS Trust, Parkinson’s UK Excellence Network and the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

This competency framework aims to recognise the activities and responsibilities of allied health professionals working with patients with progressive neurological conditions.

View Allied Health Professionals’ competency framework for progressive neurological conditions.

Non-motor symptoms questionnaire

• Provided by the International Parkinson and Movement Disorders Society (MDS).

This questionnaire can be given to people with Parkinson's to aid health and social care professionals in assessing their non-motor symptoms.

View the Non-motor symptoms questionnaire.

Patient Health Questionnaire - PHQ-9

• Adapted from the PRIME-MD Patient Health Questionnaire.

A patient health questionnaire.

View the Patient Health Questionnaire - PHQ-9.

Generalised Anxiety Disorder Assessment (GAD-7)

• Provided by NovoPsych.

The Generalised Anxiety Disorder Assessment (GAD-7) is a brief measure for symptoms of anxiety, based on the generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) diagnostic criteria described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).

View the Generalised Anxiety Disorder Assessment.

Montreal Cognitive Assessment (McCA)

• Provided by MoCA Cognition.

This brief 10 minute, 30 point tool assesses different cognitive domains: attention and concentration, executive functions, memory, language, visuoconstructional skills, conceptual thinking, calculations, and orientation.

Access Montreal Cognitive Assessment.

NICE guidelines

• Provided by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

This guideline covers diagnosing and managing Parkinson's in people aged 18 and over. It aims to improve care from diagnosis, including monitoring and managing symptoms, providing information and support, and palliative care.

Read the guidelines on the NICE website.

SSPED: Swallow screening tool for patients with Parkinson's in the Emergency Department

• Provided by Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust.

A group of tools, instructional video and implementation guide, to improve the quality and experience of care for patients with Parkinson's in the emergency department (ED) environment.

View the SSPED screening tool.

Supporting people who have eating and drinking difficulties

• Provided by Royal College of Physicians (RCP).

View Royal College of Physicians (RCP) website.

Best practice guidelines for dietitians on the management of Parkinson's

• Provided by the British Dietetics Association.

These dietitian guidelines explain the nutritional consequences of Parkinson's and strategies for managing nutrition-related symptoms and diet.

View Best practice guidelines for dietitians on the management of Parkinson's.

Clinically-assisted nutrition and hydration (CANH) and adults who lack the capacity to consent

• Provided by British Medical Association.

This guidance provides practical advice to support decision-making in a complex, sensitive area of practice.

View Clinically-assisted nutrition and hydration (CANH) and adults who lack the capacity to consent.

Ambitions for palliative and end of life care

• Provided by NHS England.

The Ambitions framework was developed by a partnership of national organisations across the statutory and voluntary sectors. It sets out our vision to improve end of life care through partnership and collaborative action between organisations at local level throughout England.

View the Ambitions framework.

Gold Standards Framework for Palliative Care

• Provided by The Gold Standards Framework (GSF).

A training provider for generalist frontline staff in caring for people in the last years of life for over 25 years. GSF is a practical and evidence-based end of life care service improvement programme.

Go to Gold Standards Framework website.

Neurology Academy MasterClasses

• Provided by the Neurology Academy.

The Parkinson's Academy and Palliative Care Academy offer different levels of MasterClass for professionals specialising in Parkinson's.

Visit the events page on the Neurology Academy website for more information.

Training Made Easy events

• A Multidisciplinary Approach to Parkinson's 2 day event.
• Multidisciplinary Management of Parkinson's Level One.
• Multidisciplinary Team Management of Atypical Parkinson's Disease.

Register for these events on the Training Made Easy website.