Every minute counts: time critical Parkinson’s medication on time, every time

Report expresses concern that 58% of people with Parkinson’s admitted to hospitals in England last year did not receive their medication on time, every time. A delay as little as 30 minutes can mean difference between functioning well & being unable to move, walk, talk or swallow

SPS commentary:

In May 2023, Parkinson’s UK sent a Freedom of Information request to every NHS Trust in England to find out what steps they are taking to address this wholly avoidable problem. This report brings those insights together to reveal the true extent of missed medications for people with Parkinson’s. It found that almost half of NHS trusts do not provide the right training on time-critical medication, one in four NHS trusts does not enable people with Parkinson’s to manage their medication themselves in hospital, despite being able to do so. It also highlighted that NHS trusts are not required to monitor or report missed or delayed doses of Parkinson’s medication.

The report describes practical solutions for the NHS in England to:

  • Empower people with Parkinson’s to take their own medication in hospital.
  • Harness the power of e-prescribing to assist, monitor and report on the issue.
  • Train hospital ward staff to give them the knowledge and confidence to ensure people with Parkinson’s get their medication on time every time.

Parkinson's UK

Resource links:

Press release