House of Lords debates access to neurological healthcare

Ahead of the debate, Parkinson’s UK briefed members of the House of Lords about the challenges our community face in accessing health services that are vital to managing the range of Parkinson’s symptoms. We told peers:

• ​​​A European Academy of Neurology survey found that the UK was ranked 44 out of 45 European countries for the number of neurologists per head of the population, with only Ireland having fewer. 
• The Royal College of Physicians found that 48% of consultant geriatricians in England are set to retire within the next ten years.
• While mental health services are an integral aspect of care for people with Parkinson’s, in 2020 the Government was on course to miss their recruitment target for expanding the mental health workforce by 50%.

We were delighted to see Baroness Brinton, Liberal Democrat Health and Social Care spokesperson in the Lords, raise a number of our points in the debate. She urged the government to publish a neurology NHS workforce strategy to ensure there are enough staff to provide excellent care to people with neurological conditions including Parkinson’s. 

The debate was after the Neurological Alliance’s launched the results of "My Neuro Survey". The survey received 8,500 responses from people living with neurological conditions across the UK, including people with Parkinson’s. We joined the launch in Parliament. Read more about the results of the My Neuro Survey.

The Neurological Alliance is calling on the government to create a UK-wide neurological taskforce to transform healthcare and support for people with neurological conditions. We were encouraged to see strong support from members of the Lords across all political parties.