New UK Parkinson's Excellence Network can transform care for people affected by Parkinson's

The newly launched UK Parkinson's Excellence Network can transform care for those affected by Parkinson's, according to an article in Neurodegenerative Disease Management. The journal, published by Future Science Group, features a detailed review of the multi-disciplinary effort, which brings together health professionals, social care experts, Parkinson's UK, and patients, to develop and advocate for more patient-centered care for those affected by Parkinson's in the United Kingdom.

"We formed this network to fundamentally improve the care provided to people with Parkinson's, from the point of diagnosis onwards," said Professor David Burn, Consultant Neurologist, author of the article and clinical director of the Excellence Network. "By bringing together patients, their caregivers, experts in both the clinical treatment and social services, and the resources of Parkinson's UK, the largest charity funder of Parkinson's research in Europe, we believe we can drive a fundamental change in patient care."

The article provides details on the Excellence Network's six themed working groups, which focus on leading improvement in subject areas such as education or service development. The Excellence Network also supports 20 regional working groups, which seek to empower and support both patients and professionals to build awareness and drive changes in their local area.

"The aim is to raise our voices so the need for better care is recognized, and to raise the level of service consistency, so that every person with Parkinson's receives a high-quality standard of care, and every professional can make better use of their time and effort," said Professor Burn.

"Prof. Burn provides extensive detail on this new effort, developed in direct response to the requests of those living with Parkinson's disease, to disseminate successful Parkinson's care strategies throughout the UK," said Daphne Boulicault, Editor of Neurodegenerative Disease Management. "This is a practical first step towards a nationwide, multidisciplinary and patient-centered Parkinson's service."

Parkinson's is a progressive neurological condition for which there is currently no cure. In the UK, one person in every 500, or about 127,000 people, has Parkinson's.