A team led by a University of Plymouth Parkinson’s expert has won a national award recognising excellence in the sector. 

The Acute Parkinson’s team, based within Derriford Hospital and led by Consultant Neurologist Dr Camille Carroll, were victorious in winning an award at the national UK Parkinson’s Excellence Network awards, held in Manchester.

Parkinson’s, a neurological condition for which there is currently no cure, affects 145,000 people across the UK. At least two people are diagnosed with the disease every hour.

For people with Parkinson’s, being an inpatient in hospital can be particularly challenging and unnerving, especially when it comes to the administration of medication. If medication isn’t provided on time, their ability to manage their symptoms may be reduced, affecting important functions such as movement and swallowing.

The award recognised the team and its specialist Parkinson’s nurse-led service, which was established in 2016 by University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust (UHPNT). The service now incorporates complex and advanced therapy clinics, as well as planned ‘one-off’ clinics, to help patients with Parkinson’s to self-manage their condition better, reducing unnecessary hospital admissions and the length of potential stays.