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Parkinson's Disease

Checked: 18-11-2023 by katy baetjer Next Review: 18-11-2026

Overview

See the CKS Parkinson's Disease guidelines for advice on management of suspected and confirmed Parkinson's Disease.

Consider reviewing the Tremor page on Remedy if appropriate.

The Parkinson's UK website also has information and support for patients and a professional resources section includes links to useful information and learning hub.

Bristol Health Partners have set up a Movement Disorders Health Integration Team (HIT) who are working together to improve treatment and support for people with Parkinson's and other movement disorders in the Bristol area and further afield.

Referral

Suspected Parkinson's Disease

If Parkinson's Disease is suspected the following options for referral are available:

Care of the Elderly Movement Disorder Clinics available via eRS - see Movement Disorders page:

UHBW Care of the Elderly Parkinson's and Movement Disorder Clinics accept referrals for patients aged 40 and over with suspected Parkinson's Disease.
NBT Care of the Elderly Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorder Clinics accept referrals for patients aged 70 and over with suspected Parkinson's Disease.

Neurology via eRS

Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders - Neurology - Southmead - see their Movement Disorder Service page.

The BNSSG Referral Service suggest that most referrals can be sent via eRS to the Care of the Elderly Teams at either UHBW and NBT. This is often a quicker route to diagnosis and treatment than the neurology service which usually has longer waits. Onward referral to a neurology service can be made by these teams if necessary.

If a neurology service is specifically required then please state clearly in the referral.

Confirmed Parkinson's Disease

Patients with a known diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease who need support or advice can be referred to the Community Parkinson's Service - see details of the service below:

Community Parkinson's Service - BNSSG

The Community Parkinson’s service is a non-urgent service for adults over the age of 18 years with Parkinson’s or Parkinsonism who have been diagnosed by a specialist Consultant and who are registered with a GP practice within the BNSSG area.*

The service is provided by Specialist Nurses and Practitioners who can review medication and give information, advice, and support to people with Parkinson’s and their carers, families and other healthcare professionals. People are seen in local community clinics and in their own homes, including care homes, if required.

Following initial referral from a Health Care Professional, people with Parkinson’s can self-refer to the service as and when support is required.

For a rapidly deteriorating patient, please refer to the Framework for professionals supporting patients deteriorating with Parkinson’s Disease prior to referring.

To refer, complete the Referral Form and send to: Sirona.parkinsons@nhs.net

Telephone: 0300 125 5550

Working hours: Monday to Friday 8.30am – 4.30pm

*Please note that Weston and Worle patients are not currently covered by this service. In the absence of a Parkinson’s practitioner service in Weston & Worle, there remains access to Specialist Neuro OT, Physio and SLT. Please see Specialist Community Neurology (Remedy BNSSG ICB) with the relevant information on how to access.

Neurophysiotherapy

Please see Physiotherapy section of Remedy for further details.

Complications of Parkinson's Disease

Difficulty swallowing medication can be an issue in these patients and local clinicians have produced Community guidelines for management of Parkinson's Disease pts with swallowing difficulties 2022

End-Stage Parkinson's Disease

CKS has some guideline on recognising and managing End-Stage Parksinson's Disease .

Hospice services may also be appropriate for support with end of life care.

Supporting patients deteriorating with Parkinson's disease (PD)

‘Framework for professionals supporting patients deteriorating with Parkinson’s Disease (PD)’. Co-produced by Consultants from NBT, UHBW and St Peter’s Hospice. Found on the Hospice website Clinical Guidelines - St Peter's Hospice (stpetershospice.org).

For any queries, please use the St Peter’s Hospice 24/7 clinical advice line 0117 9159 430.

Efforts are made to ensure the accuracy and agreement of these guidelines, including any content uploaded, referred to or linked to from the system. However, BNSSG ICB cannot guarantee this. This guidance does not override the individual responsibility of healthcare professionals to make decisions appropriate to the circumstances of the individual patient, in consultation with the patient and/or guardian or carer, in accordance with the mental capacity act, and informed by the summary of product characteristics of any drugs they are considering. Practitioners are required to perform their duties in accordance with the law and their regulators and nothing in this guidance should be interpreted in a way that would be inconsistent with compliance with those duties.

Information provided through Remedy is continually updated so please be aware any printed copies may quickly become out of date.