People with Parkinson’s face 'postcode lottery' of care in Wales, says David Chadwick MP

Tindle News

People in Wales living with Parkinson’s disease are not getting a good enough level of care, says David Chadwick. The Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe MP paid tribute in a Westminster Hall debate yesterday to everyone in Wales and across the UK who has campaigned hard for people living with Parkinson’s. Video from parliamentlive.tv

Transcript

00:00Thank you Madam Chair. I want to make tribute to everyone in Wales and across the United Kingdom

00:07who has campaigned so hard for people living with Parkinson's. In Wales we expect the number

00:12of people living with Parkinson's to rise to more than 9,000 by 2030 and yet too many still face a

00:19postcode lottery in accessing the most basic elements of care from diagnosis to rehabilitation.

00:25Welsh health boards do not have reliable plans to replace specialist staff when they leave

00:30which means long gaps in access to expert care. Combined with ongoing shortages in neurology

00:37people can wait far too long to see anyone with the right expertise. For a degenerative condition

00:44that demands regular and specialist review this is simply unacceptable. Wales saw some of the highest

00:52disruption to rehabilitation services during the pandemic and many of those pressures have not

00:57fully eased. People with Parkinson's still report difficulties accessing physiotherapy, speech and

01:03language therapy and occupational therapy. When rehabilitation breaks down people deteriorate

01:09physically, mentally and socially and carers are left to carry an enormous burden. Many are older

01:15spouses whose own health is already fragile and they deserve a system that recognises and supports them.

01:23We must also fix the basics. In Wales 73% of people with Parkinson's in hospital say that they do not

01:31receive their medication on time. A delay of just 30 minutes can make the difference between going home

01:37or staying another week on a ward. This should not be happening.

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