Patients, carers and staff have gathered for an event aimed at shaping the future of Parkinson’s disease services across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s South Sector.
The event, held on 26th May at the William Quarrier Epilepsy Centre in Glasgow, brought together around 70 people living with Parkinson’s, along with family members and carers, giving them the opportunity to meet the multidisciplinary team and share their experiences of care.
Organised by Dr Steven Wishart, Consultant Geriatrician and Clinical Director for Older People’s Services, the session focused on strengthening connections between patients and staff, while ensuring that future service developments are informed directly by those who use them.
The event provided an opportunity for attendees to learn more about the roles of the multidisciplinary team, including medical, nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy services, and how they work together to support people living with Parkinson’s.
As well as hearing updates from clinical staff, participants took part in group discussions facilitated by members of the team, creating space for open conversations about their experiences and priorities for care.
A key aim of the event was to gather feedback that will help shape future service planning. Attendees were encouraged to share their views on the support they receive, how accessible services are, and how different parts of the multidisciplinary team contribute to their care.
The feedback will now be reviewed by the team and used to inform a future service development plan, helping to ensure that care continues to evolve in line with the needs of patients and carers.
Dr Wishart said: “Events like this are an important opportunity for us to listen directly to people living with Parkinson’s and those who support them. Their experiences and feedback are vital in helping us understand what is working well and where we can improve, ensuring that our services continue to develop in a way that meets the needs of patients and carers.”
The event also highlighted the importance of partnership working, with support from Parkinson’s UK helping to bring people together and support engagement with local patient communities.
By bringing together patients, carers and staff in a shared space, the engagement event provided a valuable opportunity to listen, learn and build on existing services – with a clear focus on improving the experience of people living with Parkinson’s.
Dr Wishart added: “I would like to thank everyone who came along and contributed to the event, as well as the staff and partners involved in planning and delivering it. The willingness of people to share their experiences and ideas is essential in helping us continue to improve services and provide the best possible care for people living with Parkinson’s.”
