For Parkinson’s Awareness Week, Swindon MPs Justin Tomlinson and Robert Buckland have pledged their support to the charity Parkinson’s UK’s ‘We Won’t Wait’ campaign, calling for urgent action to unlock the promise of research developments that could pave the way to better treatments and stop Parkinson’s drugs ‘falling behind’.
Every hour, someone in the UK is told they have Parkinson's. It affects 127,000 people in the UK – which is around one in 500 of the population. Parkinson's is a degenerative neurological condition, for which there currently is no cure. The main symptoms of the condition are tremor, slowness of movement and rigidity. Parkinson's UK is the UK's leading charity supporting those with the condition. Its mission is to find a cure and improve life for everyone affected by Parkinson's through cutting edge research, information, support and campaigning.
Research released by the charity revealed that despite being an incurable, degenerative condition which can affect anyone, in the South West:
- Nearly half (48%) of people are unsure, or wrongly say that it is possible to prevent Parkinson’s.
- Four in five (83%) are unsure, or incorrectly think that there is no limit to the amount of time Parkinson’s medication works for.
- Three in five (60%) wrongly believe that Parkinson’s medication does more than mask or ease the symptoms of the condition.
Parkinson’s UK wants to drive forward crucial developments in Parkinson’s research to pioneer more effective treatments that are desperately needed for the estimated 12,000 living with the condition in the South West.
Both MPs already do a lot locally to support the Swindon branch of Parkinson’s UK, including through monthly coffee mornings at Justin’s community office as well as a number of informative sessions hosted by the NHS (also at Justin’s office).
Justin Tomlinson MP said: “While great strides have been made over the past 200 years, people with Parkinson’s are still waiting for a treatment that can tackle the condition head on. Because of this, I am supporting Parkinson’s UK’s We Won’t Wait campaign: we need a complete step change to deliver better treatments and a cure faster.”
Steve Ford, Chief Executive at Parkinson’s UK said: “We are delighted both Swindon MPs are supporting our crucial campaign to transform research so that people with Parkinson’s have access to new and better treatments that will improve their lives and, ultimately, a cure for this cruel condition.”
To find out more about the ‘We Won’t Wait’ campaign visit www.parkinsons.org.uk
