The Parky Charter: Improving Care and Funding for Parkinson's Disease

Send us a topic important to you.As one of the fastest growing neurological conditions, affecting over 116,000 people in the UK, patients face challenges like long waits for specialist appointments and fragmented care. The debate focused on implementing the Parky charter, a powerful five-point plan demanding speedy access to specialists, coordinated support through a Parkinson’s passport, and renewed investment in finding a cure. We examine the crucial link between timely care, consistent medication access, and ensuring dignity for all sufferers.Key TakeawaysThe e-petition supporting the Parky charter garnered over 113,000 signatures, demonstrating a collective call for meaningful action to improve care.Parkinson’s is a fast-growing neurological condition, with the number of people affected in the UK expected to reach 173,000 by 2030.Patients often struggle with access to specialist services; the UK ranks near the bottom in Europe for the number of neurologists per capita, and only about half of neurology services meet the 18-week referral target.Receiving medication is time-critical; delays of just 30 minutes in a hospital can severely worsen symptoms, yet more than half of hospitalised patients report such delays.The Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment system frequently fails to capture the complexity and fluctuating nature of Parkinson's, leading to inaccurate assessments.A holistic approach to care is essential, combining specialist medical support with community initiatives such as walking football and physical activity courses.Definitions Parky Charter: A five-point manifesto created by the "Movers and Shakers" podcast group, calling for reform in care, including immediate information, specialist access, support coordination via a Parkinson’s passport, comprehensive care, and research investment.Source: Parkinson’s DiseaseVolume 775: debated on Monday 17 November 2025Follow and subscribe to 'The Bench Report' on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube for new episodes daily: thebenchreport.co.ukSubscribe to our Substack Shape our next episode! Get in touch with an issue important to you - Producer Tom will grab another coffee and start the research!Email us: [email protected] us on YouTube,  X, Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok! @benchreportUKSupport us for bonus and extended episodes + more.No outside chatter: source material only taken from Hansard and the Parliament UK website.  Contains Parliamentary information repurposed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0....