People in West Suffolk registered with a West Suffolk GP can access the services of the Community Parkinson’s Nurse Specialist within West Suffolk CCG.
The service has been in place since January 2006. Usual hours of working are Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm. An answerphone is on 24 hours a day so messages can be left during and out of normal working hours.
It provides services for those living with Parkinson’s, as well as other movement disorders. These being, Multiple Systems Atrophy, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Cortical Basal degeneration and Lewy body dementia.
Based at the Disability Resource Centre at 4 Bunting Road, Bury St Edmunds, the service runs clinics in Bury St Edmund, Haverhill, Sudbury and Newmarket, as well as home visits if required. It links in with other healthcare professionals, provides case management, prescribing, support, education and information. It works in collaboration with neurologists in West Suffolk Hospital, Addenbrooke’s Hospital and specialist centres. West Suffolk Hospital now has a Parkinson’s nurse working within the hospital, to support individuals whist an inpatient, as well as supporting people in the east of Suffolk who are under the care of a neurologist at West Suffolk Hospital.
It runs an open referral system, so referrals are taken from professionals, the voluntary sector and the public who live with any of these conditions, either as the person with the condition, or a family member or carer.
Service contact details;
Tracey Ward RGN BSc Hons, Parkinson’s Disease Nurse Specialist, Suffolk Community Healthcare
E-mail: tracey.ward@suffolkch.nhs.uk
Telephone: 01284 748840
Disability Resource Centre, Papworth House, 4 Bunting Road, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. IP32 7BX. www.nhssuffolk.nhs.uk
Administrative support: Victoria Wright, 01284 748842
Parkinson’s UK National Helpline: 0808 800 0303
Parkinson’s UK. 215 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London. SW1V 1EJ.
For information on Cortical basal degeneration: http://www.pspassociation.org.uk/what-is-psp
Multiple System Atrophy Trust: www.msatrust.org.uk
Lewy Body Society: www.lewybody.org
