New Parkinson’s nurse will provide specialist support to Rochdale patients

Anna Spencer

People diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale will benefit from support from a dedicated nurse.

Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust’s Neuro-Rehabilitation Team has employed a Parkinson’s Disease Specialist Nurse to work with people from diagnosis onwards to ensure they get the best possible care and support.

Anna Spencer will work with the team as well as other community staff, hospital staff, service users, families and carers to ensure people’s care is joined up.
She will provide assessments of service users’ needs and signpost them to appropriate support.

Anna, who has previously worked in an urgent care team, in intensive care and in specialised community nursing teams, will also monitor patient’s medication and provide education to help them to better manage their condition, improve their confidence and independence and help them experience the best possible quality of life.

She said: “People with Parkinson’s Disease and their families need access to the right information and support from the moment of diagnosis to the end of their lives.

“My role will be to act as a point of contact for them, and for other professionals, to ensure they get the best possible care.”

Anna’s interdisciplinary role in the Neuro-Rehabilitation Team is unique in that most Parkinson’s Disease nurses either work as lone practitioners or affiliated to services.

By working in partnership with the team, she can help ensure everyone in Rochdale with a diagnosis of Parkinson’s has access to the right support at the right time.

Ashleigh Knowles, Clinical Lead for Neurological Rehabilitation, said: “We’re looking forward to working closely with Anna to improve care and support for people with Parkinson’s and their families.”

The Neuro-Rehab team provides specialist support to people who have Parkinson’s or other neurological conditions, working in partnership with the person, their family and carers to achieve goals to help them retain their independence and maximise their wellbeing.