News

The Trust is delighted to have received highly commended in 2 categories at this week’s Parkinson’s Excellence Network Awards.

Set up by the charity Parkinson’s UK, the awards celebrate outstanding health and social care services for people with Parkinson’s.

The Trust received highly commended for the ‘Innovation in Practice’ award. This follows a successful project to cut waiting times for medication for people with Parkinson’s. It was also highly commended for the ‘Sharing Learning and Education’ category. This project promotes physical activity and exercise for people living with Parkinson’s.

In March 2021, we began a new project with the aim of reducing waiting times for medication. It wanted to ensure that people with Parkinson’s received their medication within 30 minutes of being prescribed.

To achieve this the team brought in a new and improved method to be used across the Trust. The Parkinson’s Service have been working with our Education Department. Training is in place for all ward-based staff to support the project.

So far there has been a 13% reduction in medications received outside the 30-minute window. 5 wards have achieved the gold standard target of all medications received within 30 minutes.

“It is great that this project has been recognised. It has been beneficial for people with Parkinson’s. With plans in place to continue this ongoing project we hope it can help many more.

“We are 1 of 3 services nationally to be nominated for this award, and to receive highly commended is great.” Lynne Osborne, Consultant Nurse

The Trust was also highly commended in the ‘Sharing Learning and Education’ category. This project aims to help people with Parkinson’s lead active lifestyles.

Since 2019, the Trust’s partnership with Active Cornwall has helped the team provide high quality training of new Parkinson’s friendly providers. This is thanks to an evidence-based and sustained approach to training.

The project has also built greater awareness of Parkinson’s, showing the value of exercise. It has also opened up new paths for people living with Parkinson’s, with a range of activities to choose from. This also means people are able to self-manage in a highly active and fun way.

“The Trust is passionate about promoting and supporting physical activity and exercise for people living with Parkinson’s.

“By collaborating with Active Cornwall, we were able to expand our work and improve the opportunities for our patients to be more active in a variety of ways, right across the county.

“The project has been a great success both for people with Parkinson’s in Cornwall and the team. The team’s highly commended at the Parkinson’s Excellence Network Awards is a fantastic way to spread the word about what we have achieved so far.” Sophia Hulbert, Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist in Parkinson's

The awards ceremony took place at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens on Wednesday 22 November.

“To hear we have received highly commended not once but twice at the Parkinson's Excellence Network Awards fills me with great pride.

"As a Trust, our vision is for outstanding care for all. It is great to hear of projects that worked towards supporting that ambition acknowledged nationally.” Debbie Richards, Chief Executive