75p vote: Meet Parkinson’s UK

What is Parkinson’s and who is Parkinson’s UK? 

Parkinson’s is the fastest-growing neurological condition in the world. It can affect people of any age, gender, or ethnicity. 1 in 37 people will be diagnosed in their lifetime, and currently, there is no cure. In the UK right now there are 153,000 people with Parkinson’s including over 13,000 in Scotland. Moreover, more than 1 million people are affected, either living with the condition themselves or as a friend or family member of someone who is. Its impact is much more far-reaching than many people think and its effect on people’s lives is often greatly underestimated - it can be devastating and incredibly complex to manage. 

Parkinson’s is degenerative, so it gets worse over time, and there are over 40 symptoms, from painful muscle spasms, freezing, uncontrollable tremors, and slurred speech, to depression, anxiety, and dementia. Everyone’s experience of Parkinson’s is different and people living with the condition manage with a cocktail of medications, but drugs don’t eradicate symptoms, they merely help to mask them. However, taking these often leads to side effects that can be life-changing in their own way, including acute obsessive impulses, hallucinations, and Dyskinesia - sudden jerks, twisting, and writhing movements caused by years of taking Parkinson’s medication. 

Parkinson’s UK makes sure no one faces Parkinson’s alone. They exist for two key reasons: to provide support, advice, and comfort for people living with Parkinson’s in the UK, and as the largest charitable European funder of Parkinson’s research, to fight towards groundbreaking new treatments, medications, and, ultimately, a cure. This includes funding research at the University of Edinburgh as well as many other institutions around the globe to fast-track promising developments and they’re on the verge of major breakthroughs. 

Why should you vote for Parkinson’s UK?  

Every person with Parkinson’s should get specialist healthcare. It's a lifeline for those who do get it. However, because of the huge pressures on the NHS, Parkinson's services are stretched to breaking point. About 20% of people living with Parkinson's in the UK currently have limited or no access to the dedicated help they need from a Parkinson’s nurse. This amounts to about 32,000 people nationally or around 3,000 in Scotland alone. 

Parkinson's nurses are heroes, the linchpin of this vital care. They’re highly skilled, trained specialists with a deep understanding of the condition, a continuous point of contact who play a key role including helping with medication, managing complex symptoms, and providing much-needed information and support. They work with specialists including physiotherapists and mental health professionals to ensure joined-up support.  

But there are not enough Parkinson's nurses. Without them, people can feel lost in how to cope, anxious, and isolated. They can find it difficult to navigate life with Parkinson’s, and the increased stress can lead to worsening symptoms, significantly impacted mental health, and loss of independence. 

By voting for Parkinson’s UK, you can help them to radically alter the future lives of many people living with the condition right now. Your support will enable them to fund 2 new nurse posts potentially supporting around 800 people living with Parkinson’s as well as thousands of their loved ones by providing them with the expert support they need to manage the condition and symptoms.