Free washbags full of tips for Parkinsons sufferers

By SNJ reporter

http://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.u..._sufferers.php

THE Parkinson's Disease Society (PDS) has launched a free washbag full of tips and advice to help the 4,000 people with Parkinson's living in the South West who are admitted into hospital each year get their medication on time during their hospital stay.

The idea for the washbags came from Rollo Alderwick from Stroud knows exactly how in important it is that people with Parkinson's get their medication on time in hospital. Rollo has Parkinson's himself, and he had a terrible time in hospital after being admitted in an emergency with a leg infection. He failed to get his Parkinson's medication when he needed it, and his stay in hospital lasted 3 weeks rather than the initially estimated 48 hours. Towards the end of his stay, Rollo was allowed to keep his medication in a lockable cabinet, but even then he wasn't given the key.

Since the launch of the Get it on time campaign, Rollo has been working hard to influence hospitals in Gloucestershire and to encourage them to improve their medication management processes for people living with Parkinson's.

He came up with the idea of the 'Get it on time' get well card, that is included in the new washbag.

If Parkinsons sufferers don't manage their medication properly their ability to manage their symptoms may be lost, for example, they may suddenly not be able to move, get out of bed or walk down a corridor.

The new materials form part of the PDS's Get it on time' campaign, a campaign launched in 2006 to ensure that all people with Parkinson's get their medication on time every time in hospital. The charity's free Get it on time' washbag contains: a detailed guide including useful tips on how to prepare for a hospital stay, what to prepare and who to talk to, a medication record, a card to put by their bed and tear off reminder slips to alert staff to their Parkinson's.

In addition to the washbag, the PDS has produced a leaflet: Helping You Complain - England which gives people the information they need to report if something goes wrong (an incident) and to make a formal or informal complaint if they have problems with the timing of their Parkinson's medication or any other medicines management difficulties during their stay.

Problems with the timing of Parkinson's medication in hospital can have a significant impact on the experience of people in hospitals. In a survey of Parkinson's Disease Nurse Specialists carried out in 2006, nine out of ten nurses felt that patients with Parkinson's can experience clinical problems or an extended hospital stay as a result of missed or late administration of their medication. Recent analysis of Hospital Admissions Data for England 2005/6 revealed that people with Parkinson's admitted to hospital stayed in hospital for on average 5 days longer than a comparable population.

The Get it on time' campaign was launched to highlight the issue to staff working in hospitals across the UK and to encourage them to improve the processes they have in place for people with Parkinson's.

Neil Smart, South West Regional Manager for the Parkinson's Disease Society said: "The Get it on time' campaign has already made a big difference to the lives of many people with Parkinson's and their families across the South West. We are sure that these materials will go even further, giving people the tools they need to explain to hospital staff why they need their medication at certain times. I would urge every person with Parkinson's living in the South West to order a free Get it on time' washbag."

The Get it on time' washbag and English complaints leaflet are available to order free of charge from Sharward Services Ltd, Westerfield Business Centre, Main Road, Westerfield, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP6 9AB. Tel: 01473 212 115, Fax: 01473 212 114, Email: pds@sharward.co.uk Or through the PDS website www.parkinsons.org.uk

7:32am Tuesday 4th December 2007

We are already feeling the benefit of the "Get it on time" here in Devon, South West England.When my PwP husband went into hospital for a double hernia operation he was allowed to self medicate.They even arranged his order on the Surgery list to fit in with pill times.I put this down to the work of our wonderful and knowledgable P.D specialist nurse.