Marking 20 years of Parkinson's disease nurse specialists: Looking to the future

Abstract

This year we celebrate 20 years since the introduction of the first Parkinson's disease nurse specialist (PDNS) in Cornwall. Vast improvements in Parkinson's care have resulted from the creation of about 270 posts, throughout the UK, since 1989. With a population of 100000 people with Parkinson's disease (PD) in the UK and 10000 new cases of this long-term condition each year, this specialist role is clearly needed. Nationally, access to a PDNS varies, and in areas of the country where there is an established PDNS service there can be problems with unmanageable caseload numbers. This has been an issue in Cornwall, so a combined approach of utilising alternative models of care along with the extension of practitioners' roles, has helped meet service demand. However, with a possible reduction in commissioning of nurse specialists in the next few years different approaches to care will be essential to provide care effectively for the growing caseloads of such nurses.