Autumn Budget 2024: What it means for people with Parkinson’s

The latest Autumn Budget included bold spending measures across UK government departments in Westminster. Key to the Parkinson’s community were those relating to the NHS in England and social security and medical research across the UK.  

Some of the news was hopeful, with increased investment in the NHS in England and life sciences as well as extra money to help support people into work. 

However, it is not clear whether the spending will meet the needs of the Parkinson’s community and we are concerned that, yet again, a cut is being made to crucial social security support for disabled working age people. 

The NHS

The additional funding for 2025 to 2026 in England will focus on reducing waiting times from referral to consultant-led treatment.

This could be great news, along with the extra 62,000 neurological appointments a year that were promised during the general election. However, the UK government’s plans suggest purchasing new medical equipment and machinery will be the main route to achieve their 18 week target.

For the Parkinson’s community, it is the chronic shortage of specialists like neurologists and nurses, not equipment, that must be addressed if people are to be seen in the 18 week target. 

If the commitment is to truly deliver for people with Parkinson’s, urgent action must be taken to expand the NHS Parkinson’s workforce.

Social security 

Support for people with Parkinson’s who can work, but are struggling to secure employment, is very welcome. 

We know that people with Parkinson’s often want to work for as long as possible but it is the barriers to work, and staying in work, that are the issue.

While welcoming this new support, we are bitterly disappointed by the decision to limit access to social security for disabled people, by reforming the health element of Universal Credit (UC). 

Although details are to be confirmed, further cuts to disability entitlements are deeply unfair and counterproductive. 

Life sciences (including medical research)

Government investment in research and development will be protected with £20 billion worth of funding, including at least £6.1 billion to protect core research funding.

We are delighted that the UK government’s research funding commitments have been protected as it recognises the importance of life sciences to the economy and gives us hope for future investment in Parkinson’s research.

Given that Parkinson’s is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world, and costs the UK economy £3 billion per year, breakthroughs in Parkinson’s research could bring huge benefits to people with the condition, the NHS and the UK economy.

There is no guarantee that this funding will go towards Parkinson’s research, but we are clear that further government support is essential for fast-tracking the development of new treatments that are so desperately needed.

Claire Cope, Head of Policy, said: 

“While we are hopeful about the investments announced in the Budget, we need to see more detail to understand how they’ll improve the lives of people living with Parkinson’s.

“Our community urgently needs access to an expanded NHS Parkinson’s workforce and social security support to allow them to live well whether they are in work or when they are unable to work because of their condition. This Budget leaves us and the community wanting, and we’ll be pressing for more details and better support."

What now?

As well as welcoming the extra spending on the NHS, job support and life sciences, we will urge the UK government to:

• Expand the NHS Parkinson’s workforce
• Reverse plans to cut disabled people’s entitlements
• Meet to discuss how government support could help realise the promise within Parkinson’s research.

Members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Parkinson’s are being briefed on the priority issues from the Budget for our community, along with politicians across Parliament.

We will be taking every opportunity in meetings with Ministers to ask questions where further clarity is needed.

And we will also be working with other charities to raise concerns with the Chancellor about the planned increase to employer National Insurance contributions, as we fear it could have a devastating impact on the voluntary sector.

If you or your group are meeting with your local MP, please raise these issues with them and get in touch if you’d like further information.