The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7225 p744
23 November 2002

This page
Reprint
Photocopy

PDF* 75K

  Public health
  Community pharmacy
  Pharmacy practice
  Drug tariff
  ADR reporting
  Parkinson's disease
  Anticholinesterases
  Medicines distribution
  Patient information
  Training
  CPD
  Onlooker

Letters to the Editor

Parkinson's disease

Established routines must be maintained

From Mrs S. Davis, MRPharmS

I am the carer of a sufferer of Parkinson's disease. I am also a member of the Parkinson's Disease Society. This organisation produces a quarterly magazine for its members as well as a large number of informative leaflets for sufferers and their carers.

Over the years, I have been embarrassed to read correspondence from readers regarding the mismanagement of their medication while they have been in hospital, often for reasons unrelated to their Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease is a variable condition. No two patients experience the same pattern of symptoms or response to medication. Patients and their carers learn to devise a timetable for administering their medicines, which gives the optimum benefits for their particular situation. Having established a regimen that suits the patient's needs, it is a cause of distress to find that control of their medicines is taken out of their hands as soon as they enter hospital. The consequences of disturbing these administration patterns can be painful and unpleasant.

My understanding is that in recent years medicines administration in hospital has been directed towards consulting and informing patients and giving them more control over their medicines. The slavish observance of precisely timed drug rounds with the medicines trolley was, I believed, becoming a thing of the past. The fact that letters describing bad experiences in hospital keep appearing seems to indicate that this is not happening everywhere.

May I make a plea to ward pharmacists that they take the time (which I know is at a premium) to listen to Parkinson's disease sufferers and ensure that they continue to receive their medicines at times that suit them best? We, as a profession, must educate other health professionals, such as nurses, about the importance of recognising and observing established drug regimens in order to maintain what is often hard-won disease control.

Susan Davis
Stroud, Gloucestershire

Send your letter to The Editor

Previous Topic (ADR reporting)
Next Topic (Anticholinesterases)