Local campaigns update 2024

Building connections with new MPs

Following the general election, more than half of MPs are new to Westminster, which has been a great opportunity to make them aware of Parkinson’s and all the ways they can help us locally.

In Southend, volunteer Bob invited the 2 MPs in the area to meet with the local group. He made such a convincing case that one joined the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Parkinson’s!

Bob, who lives with Parkinson’s said:

"I discovered that the majority of trusts were still failing to appreciate the seriousness of patients not getting their Parkinson’s medication on time.  

"I wrote to both newly elected MP’s David Burton-Sampson and Bayo Alaba and invited them to our monthly group meeting. 

"I would recommend that all group coordinators invite their local MP to their group meeting. It is our only political link to promote the issues we face at Westminster and seek change to improve the treatment of people with Parkinson’s."

Other local groups and volunteers have been in touch with their MPs, including:

• The East Sussex Young Parkinson’s group met their MP Dr Kieran Mullan, and raised concerns about local neurology services. 
• The Trowbridge branch have invited their local MP to their next event. 
• The Brentwood group have also hosted their MP, Alex Burghart, at a branch meeting. He will be writing to the local trust, the council and the Department of Health and Social Care about support for people newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s.

We know more groups have plans to meet their MP in the new year, for instance, volunteer Garth is meeting his MP Alice Macdonald in January 2025 about local issues.

Improving health and care at a local level 

Campaigners across England have made their voice heard to improve health and care services.

Jane Rideout and Chris Maycock have been campaigning to improve the Home-Based Care service in Plymouth, meeting regularly with trust staff to discuss how it can be funded for another year.

Basildon hospital has agreed to train staff around patient safety, following campaigning from local volunteers.

In Gloucester, the Royal Gloucester Hospital is getting involved in our Get It On Time campaign after our volunteers contacted them.

And in Peterborough, a specialist nurse and physiotherapist post have been funded through our pump priming programme, after successful campaigning by our community. 

Making Blue Badges work for people with Parkinson’s 

Blue Badges enable people living with Parkinson's to travel and access vital services.

However, our community tells us that the process to get a Blue Badge is tough, but our campaigners are creating noise and making changes across the country.

Volunteer Chris helped deliver a well received Parkinson’s awareness session to staff in the Blue Badge and Concessionary Bus pass teams at Norfolk county council, as part of our ongoing campaign for better access to these services. 

We’re delighted that following the presentation, the council has agreed to share information about Parkinson’s widely with all staff via their intranet.

And the city of York council have committed to improving how they process Blue Badge applications, following joint charity campaigning, led by us.

In Trafford, members of the local group have written to their councillors and are planning to submit a question at the next council meeting. They've also recently met the leader of the opposition at Trafford council and will continue to work with local decision makers.

And in North Tyneside, volunteer Shirley met with local councillors, who have agreed to work with her to address concerns about accessing Blue Badges.

Laura Cockram, Head of Campaigns said:

"Passionate volunteers across England have demonstrated how important campaigning is to improving services. Working together we’ve delivered some important changes to local health, care and transport services. And we’ve also raised the profile of the condition with new MPs, Councillors and health bodies.

"We’ve got staff based across England to support local groups and volunteers to campaign and would love to hear from people who want to take action to improve services."