Are you aware of the health professionals who can help manage your symptoms?

About Parkinson's and health
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Health professionals who can help manage your condition include Parkinson’s nurses, specialists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, mental health professionals and dietitians. Each one will have a different role to play in helping you manage your symptoms.

We have launched a new information booklet, ‘Getting the right healthcare’, about these health professionals, how to access them, and what to do if you have questions or are struggling with receiving the right healthcare. The booklet also has information about managing your own Parkinson’s and suggestions to help feel prepared for your appointments. Read the information on our website or order a free printed booklet from our online shop.

You are entitled to the right care from health professionals. But getting access to this can be frustrating or difficult. There may be long NHS waiting lists, or you might live somewhere where services aren’t available. Sometimes it can be tricky to know what help you should be getting in the first place.

What would help you feel more confident in accessing health professionals who can help with your symptoms?

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For me, the biggest help was actually asking my GP directly for a referral to a Parkinson’s specialist nurse. I didn’t know that role even existed until another patient mentioned it to me. Once I had that contact, things got a lot easier because she could point me toward physio and OT without me having to figure out the referral maze myself.

The waiting lists are real though, especially for physio and speech therapy in some areas. What helped me feel less stuck was writing down specific symptoms before appointments so I wasn’t relying on memory when explaining things to a new professional. Also asking straight up “who else should I be seeing for this” at every appointment, since a lot of these referrals don’t happen automatically.