Parkinson’s Nurses are crucial to the management of Parkinson’s.

Last year, myself, Sue Thomas and Dr Chris Kobylecki published an article for the Journal of Parkinson’s Disease on the importance of Parkinson’s Nurses in the management - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11380295/

In this article, we discussed the evolution of the Parkinson’s nurse role developed 35 years ago (created in my home county of Cornwall). From following up the Consultant’s treatment plan to leading nurse led services in device assisted therapy clinics, the Parkinson’s nurse is a vital connection for the person with the condition. The sunburst infographic below shows the diverse responsibilities of the Parkinson’s nurse in 2025.

There are around 515 Parkinson’s nurses working in the UK. There are around 153,000 people living in the UK with Parkinson’s. NICE guidelines (2017) suggest that the Parkinson’s nurse should be the first point of contact for people with Parkinson’s. However, we know that not all NHS services are created equal and so many people with the condition, face this alone and without support. Often they seek support advice themselves and accidentally come upon an online community or a support group by accident.

My Parkinson’s Nurse service sets to offer specialist education and support for those on long NHS waiting lists who seek information in a timelier way, or simply choose an alternative path to existing NHS services. My Parkinson’s Nurse is not a replacement for NHS / GP care, it can compliment it.