More than 700 patients living with Parkinson’s in Plymouth, the South Hams and West Devon will soon be supported by an enhanced team. Funding from the charity Parkinson’s UK means a new specialist nurse can join the service for the next two years.
Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition. It occurs when a small group of nerve cells in the brain no longer produce enough dopamine. This is a chemical that transmits messages from the brain to other parts of the body, enabling people to perform smooth, coordinated movements. Without enough dopamine, it causes problems in the brain and gets worse over time.
Emma Edwards and Stacey Pearce
Currently, two specialist community nurses, Emma Edwards and Stacey Pearce play a pivotal role in providing expert care to people with the condition in and around the city. They carry out home visits, clinics and virtual appointments.
Emma said: “Our role is to support the person with Parkinson’s and their family. We optimise their medication regime, so we prescribe medication for them and monitor it. We make sure they have got enough information about the condition and are the first point of contact if they have any questions at all. We liaise very closely with their neurologists, and we meet on a weekly basis with the team at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust (UHP) to discuss patient treatment plans.
“Having another nurse in the team will mean we can work more effectively with UHP, respond quicker to unwell patients to help them avoid having to go into hospital, run multi-disciplinary clinics, run more education groups for patients and our colleagues, and spend more time looking at vital research for Parkinson’s.”
During Parkinson’s Awareness Month 2025 the team also
- supported a new Parkinson’s UK group at The Wharf in Tavistock
- produced a factsheet on young onset Parkinson’s to every GP surgery in Devon (on behalf of SpotlightYOPD charity)
- supported an online teaching project with Parkinson’s UK highlighting the importance of promoting research with patients
- provided two online carer support groups with Caring for Carers and Devon Carers
- provided a teaching session on bladder and bowel management to patients and their families at their monthly local Parkinson’s UK Friendship group
Emma continued: “We are very grateful to Parkinson’s UK for funding a new nurse. It is so important the work of our specialist nurses is highlighted so more people know about this condition. If something isn’t quite right, if your muscles are always stiff, if you are demonstrating a tremor, if you are slowed up in your movement, please go and see your GP. They will examine you and decide whether they refer you to be seen by a specialist neurologist.
“There is a real array of different treatments. Getting a person on the right one means people with Parkinson’s can get their life back. They can continue in work, get back into exercise and enjoy their lives with their families.”
For more information about Parkinsons UK visit parkinsons.org.uk
