MOVE HIT's education day showcases latest complex therapies for Parkinson's

On Tuesday, 11 February 2020, the Parkinson’s and Other Movement Disorders (MOVE) Health Integration Team (HIT) brought together over 100 clinicians from across the South West to learn more about the complex therapies available to support patients.

North Bristol NHS Trust provides deep brain stimulation (DBS), duodopa and apomorphine therapies. These treatments can help control the symptoms of Parkinson’s and they each have thorough processes associated with referral, assessment and ongoing care.

Through a series of talks from clinicians involved in all aspects of the treatments, attendees learnt more about the therapies and how best to identify and support suitable patients.

Importantly, clinicians heard directly from patients who shared their experiences.

All attendees rated the day as ‘very good’ or ‘good’. 98% of attendees said it improved their understanding of eligibility and there were increases in confidence to refer for the different treatments.

Attendees said:

“I have gained a better understanding of DBS and updated my knowledge on apomorphine and duodopa.”

“An excellent day with video and patients’ experiences.”

“Very well organised meeting. Very helpful talks, enthusiastic speakers.”

The MOVE HIT will be reviewing the impact of the day on the quality of referrals to these services from clinicians across the South West. The team will also explore future education opportunities.