Rugby MP Mark Pawsey, who is President of the Rugby Branch of Parkinson’s UK, has pledged to help overhaul local care for those with Parkinson’s after a report reveals the challenges of mental health support for those with the condition.
Attending the launch of the report, Mental Health Matters Too, Mark joined his colleagues to express their concern that nearly half of all people with Parkinson’s experience mental health symptoms, such as anxiety and depression yet only a quarter of those affected receive any treatment for it.
Compared with the general population, people diagnosed with Parkinson's are more than twice as likely to experience depression and anxiety. This can be because of changes in the brain caused by the condition. However, the results of a year-long inquiry reveal the psychological aspects of Parkinson’s are all too often being ignored by the health system. This can mean that some people with Parkinson’s wait too long to get the mental health support which they need.
The research was conducted by the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Parkinson’s, which calls for an overhaul of how the NHS treats these conditions to deliver a more ‘joined up’ approach to care for all aspects of the condition.
Speaking after the All Party Parliamentary Group on Parkinson’s launched their report, Mark said:
“This is an extremely important report, which highlights a number of issues for those with Parkinson’s that need to be addressed. As President of the Rugby Branch of Parkinson’s UK, I want to see our local health authorities ensure that people with Parkinson’s in Rugby and Bulkington get timely and effective treatment that addresses not just the physical symptoms, but the psychological symptoms too.”
Mark continued:
“Improving access to mental health is a key priority for the government and one which I fully support. Although it’s clear the vast majority of people with Parkinson’s receive treatment to manage their easily-recognisable physical symptoms, such as tremor and rigidity, comparatively few have access to the support they need for mental health conditions. This report is an important step forward for how we can get those with Parkinson’s the support they need in all aspects of their life and I hope that these recommendations will be acted on.”