New system to care for people with Parkinson's during hospital stays
The programme has been rolled out in NHS Ayrshire and Arran facilities
People with Parkinson’s will be able to get their medication on time while they are in hospital, thanks to a team from NHS Ayrshire and Arran.
The system was devised with clear visual prompts with NHS Digital services which appear next to patients’ names on the electronic whiteboards in wards.
Each patient with Parkinson’s has a tulip flower next to their name which changes colour and flashes when it’s close to the time to administer their medication.
Parkinson’s Nurse Specialist Nick Bryden, who led the team, explains: “The timely administration of medication is hugely important in helping to control symptoms in people with Parkinson’s.
“Guidance states that Parkinson’s medication should be administered within 30 minutes, either side, of the prescribed time which can be challenging within a busy hospital ward environment.”
The system was initially piloted in a couple of wards and following its success, has now been rolled out further across Ayrshire and Arran.
Nurse Director, Jennifer Wilson said: “Nick and the team’s successful work has led to a marked improvement in the timely administration of Parkinson’s medicines and, therefore, has enabled us to better support patients with Parkinson’s who are admitted to hospital.
“It also provides important support to ward staff - education can now be targeted more efficiently and effectively and the ‘tulip’ system has given staff the tools to administer medications in a timelier manner.”
Around 12,400 people in Scotland suffer from Parkinson’s, but this system will hopefully improve care in hospitals.