Excellence Network pump priming for specialist Parkinson’s nurses, and allied health and mental health professionals
The Excellence Network supports services to recruit and retain specialist staff to improve care for people with Parkinson’s.
The Excellence Network, with funds from Parkinson’s UK, continues to offer funds to pump prime Parkinson’s nurse specialist posts. We look at varied arrangements for pump priming based on local negotiations with key stakeholders.
Following the successful pump priming of Parkinson’s nurses and to recognise the importance of the wider multidisciplinary team, we’re now replicating this approach to fund specialist allied health professional (AHP) posts. This includes any member of a multidisciplinary team that is dedicated to supporting people with Parkinson's, such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and mental health professionals.
We’ve shown that specialist Parkinson’s nurses enable savings to be made across health and social care services, to the extent that they can effectively “pay for themselves”. A reduction in length of hospital stay and in the number of emergency admissions to hospital, fewer falls, maintaining mobility and independence all create significant savings to statutory services.
Application guidance: what makes a good specialist nurse pump priming bid?
We prioritise bids from areas with high levels of health inequality. We also welcome bids that will truly transform a service for people with Parkinson’s through better:
- hospital avoidance
- inpatient management
- medication management
- access to advanced care pathways and therapies.
Bids with these elements will be prioritised over those that are simply looking for an additional member of staff.
Download the full 2024 Parkinson's specialist nurse pump priming application guidance (PDF, 272KB)
Key dates
2024 bid round
-
Expressions of interest are now open for 2024
2024 key dates for services who have previously submitted an expression of interest
Round 1
- Friday 7 June 2024, 5pm: deadline for final submission of bids and letters of intent to be sent to [email protected]
- Week commencing Monday 1 July 2024: funding panel meeting
- Monday 29 July 2024: applicants informed of outcomes of panel meeting
Round 2
- Friday 25 October, 2024: deadline for final submission of bids and letters of intent to be sent to [email protected]
- Week commencing Monday 2 December 2024: funding panel meeting
- Week commencing Monday 9 December 2024: applicants informed of outcomes of panel meeting
We have heard loud and clear from people with Parkinson’s that they really value person centred multidisciplinary care.
The 2019 UK Parkinson’s Audit revealed that there are gaps in people having access to this specialised care, and this pump priming scheme aims to address those gaps.
Application guidance: what makes a good specialist allied health professional pump priming bid?
We prioritise bids from areas with high levels of health inequality. We also welcome bids that will truly transform a service for people with Parkinson’s, for example:
- increasing access to a multidisciplinary team
- increasing access to advanced care pathways and therapies.
Bids with these elements will be prioritised over those that are simply looking for an additional member of staff.
Download the full 2024 AHP pump priming application guidance (PDF, 219KB).
Considering creating new or modified roles which will include prescribing?
Both clinicians and managers within the Excellence Network have highlighted the need for clarity on the rules for prescribing. To support you as you look to grow and develop your services, we have put together some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about becoming a prescriber. You can read the FAQs here (PDF, 171KB).
We would also recommend that you seek advice and clarification from the relevant professional body, the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), and your employing organisation.
Key dates
2024 bid round
- Expressions of interest are now open for 2024 and will close at 5pm on 28 June 2024. Submit your expression of interest using the online form.
2024 bid submissions for services who have previously submitted an expression of interest
Round 1
- Friday 7 June, 2024, 5pm: deadline for final submission of bids and letters of intent to be sent to [email protected]
- Week commencing Monday 1 July 2024: funding panel meeting
- Monday 29 July 2024: applicants informed of outcomes of panel meeting
Round 2
- Friday 25 October 2024: deadline for final submission of bids and letters of intent to be sent to [email protected]
- Week commencing Monday 2 December 2024: funding panel meeting
- Week commencing Monday 9 December 2024: applicants informed of outcomes of panel meeting
Have you read all of the guidance above and still have questions? Get in touch with the dedicated pump priming team at [email protected]
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