2021 UK Parkinson's Excellence Network Conference

Health and social care professionals and the Parkinson’s community joined together online on Thursday 4 November to learn, share and discuss the 2021 UK Parkinson's Excellence Network Conference theme 'Progression beyond the pandemic: what have we learned from coronavirus (COVID-19)?'.

About the Excellence Network Conference

This year’s conference theme was 'Progression beyond the pandemic: what have we learned from coronavirus (COVID-19)?'. 

The co-produced, multi-disciplinary programme focused on sharing learning and experiences across 4 themes: restarting life, restarting services, research and technology and physical activity and exercise. The day ended with showcasing the work of 2021 Excellence Network Award winners.

Short 'mindful moments' featured throughout the day, to encourage delegates to spend a few minutes to focus on their wellbeing.

The conference was approved by the Federation of the Royal Colleges of Physicians (RCP) of the United Kingdom for 6 category 1 (external) continuing professional development (CPD) credits. Full conditions of approval are listed in the RCP guidelines.

On demand access to the Conference recording has now come to an end, but you can scroll down to view the full programme below and hear who was involved in the event.

What was on the 2021 Conference programme?

8.30am Registration

Log in, find your way around the conference website and view exhibition.

9am Opening remarks

Welcome and introductions

  • Caroline Rassell, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Parkinson's UK
  • Donald Grosset, Consultant Neurologist, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, UK Parkinson's Excellence Network Clinical Director

Excellence Network strategy

  • Rowan Wathes, Associate Director of the UK Parkinson's Excellence Network

Parkinson's Connect update

  • Katherine Crawford, Director of Services, Parkinson's UK

Psychological wellbeing and Parkinson's

  • Jess Marsh, Clinical Psychologist, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust
  • Jane Simpson, Professor of the Psychology of Neurodegenerative Conditions, Lancaster University

Communication and relationships

  • Debra Borsley, Principal Speech and Language Therapist, Airedale Foundation Trust

Driving considerations from the pandemic: pathways and pitstops

  • Jane Price, Parkinson's Disease Nurse Advanced Practitioner, Powys Teaching Health Board

11am Break

Advance, palliative and end of life care: how might the pandemic have changed this?

  • Ed Richfield, Medicine for Older People Consultant, North Bristol NHS Trust

Debate: "Self management is as effective as consultant-led care" 

  • Debate chair: Richard Walker
  • Panel: Annette Hand, Associate Professor; Bart Post, Neurologist

Mindful moment: Managing all aspects of your wellbeing

  • Suzette Shamoon, Assistant Psychologist, Institute of Neurology, University College London

12.30pm Lunch

Panel: Transformative tech

Technology developers will 'pitch' their products to the delegate audience and receive feedback.

Fireside chat: How research has risen to the challenges of coronavirus (COVID-19)

Hear from research participants and a researcher about their experiences and learnings from conducting research studies during the pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic and implications for Parkinson's

  • K. Ray Chaudhuri, Professor of Neurology and Movement Disorders, Kings College London
  • Shelley Jones, Clinical Pharmacy Team Leader for Neurosciences at Kings College Hospital

Parkinson's research update

  • Monty Silverdale, Consultant Neurologist, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust; Professor of  Neurology and Neurosciences, Manchester University

3pm Break

Motivating behaviour change for physical activity

  • Maria Lewis, Chartered Physiotherapist, Reach Your Peak
  • Sally Tawhai, Chartered Physiotherapist, Reach Your Peak

Introducing the 2021 Excellence Network Award winners

We played short films from award winners and delegates were invited to view the corresponding posters throughout the day, and take part in the Q&A sessions with the winners.

  • Awards category: Sharing learning and education
  • Awards category: Person centred approach

  • Awards category: Innovation in practice

  • The Excellence Network Award winner

Donald Grosset, closed the day.

The Excellence Network Conference programme was made up of professionals from across the multi-disciplinary team, and people living with Parkinson's.

  • Amelia Hursey, Research Participation Lead, Parkinson’s UK
  • Debra Borsley, Principal Speech and Language Therapist, Airedale Foundation Trust
  • Emma Bracher, Specialist Occupational Therapist, Emma Bracher Occupational Therapy
  • Fiona Lindop, Specialist Physiotherapist, University Hospitals of Derby & Burton NHS Foundation Trust
  • Jane Rideout, Excellence Network Clinical lead: user involvement
  • Janine Barnes, Neurology Specialist Pharmacist, Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust
  • Jennifer Foley, Highly Specialist Clinical Neuropsychologist and Honorary Lecturer, National Hospital of Neurology and Neurosurgery
  • Julie Jones, Clinical Academic Fellow and Senior Lecturer (Physiotherapy), Robert Gordon University
  • Katherine Crawford, Director of Services, Parkinson’s UK
  • Louise Ebenezer, Clinical Nurse Specialist for Parkinson’s Disease, Cwm Taff Morgannwg University Health Board
  • Patsy Cotton, Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Movement Disorders, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust
  • Rowan Wathes, Associate Director of the UK Parkinson’s Excellence Network, Parkinson’s UK
  • Richard Walker, Consultant Physician at North Tyneside General Hospital and Honorary Professor of Ageing and International Health at Newcastle University
  • Terence Manning, Head Teacher (retired)

Our Conference sponsors

The Excellence Network Conference was kindly supported by our headline sponsor Strolll, alongside confirmed sponsors Charco, Merz Pharma, Bial Pharma and Kyowa Kirin Limited.

Let's keep in touch

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