Parkinson’s UK is demanding better healthcare for people with the condition after it found they can wait years to see specialists.
The *Can’t Wait* campaign reveals how the NHS workforce crisis is severely affecting care in England = with analysis showing shortages of neuropsychiatrists and geriatricians.
The charity has also identified a “data black hole” with the NHS’s monthly workforce statistics, which it says gives only an overview of the numbers of doctors and surgeons listed by speciality.
There are more than 40 symptoms associated with Parkinson’s, ranging from tremor and pain to anxiety, which requires an integrated multidisciplinary approach to care.
But nurses, mental health professionals and allied health professionals, such as speech therapists and occupational therapists, are not identified by speciality. The charity also says numbers of Parkinson’s nurses, neuropsychologists and neuropsychiatrists are not published at all.
It adds the figures are not broken down by local area or include the current or projected demand, while only about 10% of the workforce, including doctors and surgeons, are broken down by specialty.
Sam Freeman Carney, health policy and improvement lead at Parkinson’s UK, said this lack of transparency on NHS workforce numbers means the UK government is not being open with the public about the true scale of the workforce crisis.
“It’s appalling that there is so little publicly available official data on the NHS workforce in England. Without publishing this missing data, little progress will be made on improving access to care for people with Parkinson’s,” he said.
“The *Can’t Wait* campaign highlights how essential it is that people with degenerative conditions get access to proper healthcare. We have heard directly from people with Parkinson’s telling us the appointments are essential to them staying well. Not being seen by healthcare specialists is not only hugely damaging to them but ultimately it puts more pressure on the health service.
“We are calling for the UK Government to grow and upskill the Parkinson”s workforce to better support people with the condition. Like others across the sector, we strongly believe there must be greater transparency by publishing detailed data on the current and future projections for the health and care workforce.”
He added that it also wants Integrated Care Boards to set out plans of how they will close the gaps in their Parkinson’s workforce and roll out training to improve understanding of the condition among health professionals.
As part of its campaign, Parkinson’s UK says its analysis reveals the true extent of the crisis. It highlights that A European Academy of Neurology survey found the UK was ranked 44 out of 45 European countries for the number of neurologists per population, with only Ireland having fewer.
There are just 64 consultant neuropsychiatrists in the UK, with up to two year waits for inpatient support, while the UK was ranked 16 out of 19 of the top European countries for physiotherapists per 1,000 of the population in 2020.
The charity also points to a survey by The Royal College of Physicians, which found 48% of consultant geriatricians in England are to retire within the next 10 years, while a written answer to a parliamentary question in 2020 revealed the Government was on course to miss its recruitment target for expanding the mental health workforce by 50%. Mental health services are an integral aspect of care for people with Parkinson’s.
The Parkinson’s UK campaign is being backed by several professional bodies, including the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists, the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and the Parkinson’s Disease Nurse Specialist Association.
Steve Ford, CEO, Royal College of Occupational Therapists, said: “I am supporting Parkinson’s UK Can’t Wait campaign as we need a strengthened workforce, more investment and better Parkinson’s care across the UK.
“The role that occupational therapists and allied health professionals play in supporting people living with Parkinson’s is significant, so that individuals can stay independent and carry out their day-to-day activities with limited barriers.”
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