What causes Parkinsons?

What are the signs and symptoms?

How many people have Parkinson's?

What age do people get Parkinson's?

The Southampton City Parkinson's Disease Nurse Specialist Update 2010.

Southampton City PCT Parkinson’s disease Self Management Education Programme.

This programme has been running now for four years and is aimed at patient’s with a relatively recent diagnosis of PD (within the last five years). The programme runs over seven weeks and uses direct teaching, group work and participation to help people with PD and their carer/spouse to understand more about PD, the treatments and therapies used to manage it, along with local services and support groups. All relevant patients can book a place on the programme through contacting Vicky Queen, PDNS.

We are hoping to expand the programme to provide a refresher programme for people who have been daignosed for some time, Vicky Queen, PDNS would like to know if you have any ideas or suggestions about the contenet of a refresher programme on vicky.queen@nhs.net

The next Parkinson's Disease Self Management Programme starts in September 2010, please contact Vicky Queen on 02380 296214 to book your place or to find out more information. 

Southampton City PCT PDNS Telephone Clinic.

The telephone clinic was set up by Vicky Queen, PDNS in 2007 and aimed to provide responsive and timely follow up appointments for patients who had been seen at least once in a clinic/home visit. The telephone clinic has improved response times and was audited inJuly 2009, this illustrated that a large percentage of people found this an effective and timely method for follow up, reducing the stress of getting to and from clinics. 

Forthcoming services/projects

Relaxation for stress management in PD project.

This proposed project is to be run by Diane Barnes, community OT, with the support of Vicky Queen, PDNS. The project aims to provide group relaxation, based upon the latest evidence of effective techniques to enable people with PD to manage stress, which may exacerbate symptoms such as tremor. We had hoped to start this project at the end of 2009, but due to various constraints we could not, but the good news is that it started in April 2010. The first programme in April was very successfull and the next one starts at the end of August 2010 to find out more contact vicky.queen@nhs.net

Pilot of Self Assessment Questionnaire for people with PD

This is a joint project between the Parkinson’s Disease Society, Healthy Alliance and the Cure Parkinson’s trust to enable people with PD to self assess their symptoms. Vicky Queen, PDNS has been part of the pilot group (one of three pilot areas in the UK) and will be looking for volunteer patients to trial the questionnaire this summer. If you want to volunteer to try the self assessment tool contact Vicky PDNS.

Southampton PDS PD Exercise Group.

The PD exercise group was originally set up in 2006 through grant obtained by Vicky Queen, PDNS. Since then it has continues to develop and is becoming increasingly popular. It is run by Mary Shorter, Chair of the Southampton PDS and the group is instructed by three Senior Physiotherapist's :Jean Hunter, Sue Till and Helen Thaxter. All patients are required to book their own place on the programme through contacting Vicky Queen, PDNS or Mary Shorter on 02380 449652.