P eople living with Parkinson’s disease in Northern NSW now have the support of a newly appointed Parkinson’s Specialist Nurse, Rebecca Manners, who is trained and experienced in the care of people with the neurodegenerative condition.
Ms Manners is based in Ballina and will support people living with Parkinson’s, their families and caregivers who reside in the Tweed, Byron, and Ballina communities.
The appointment was announced today by Member for Tweed Geoff Provest and Vice President of the Parkinson’s NSW Board David Veness.
The position is being co- funded by Northern NSW Local Health District and Parkinson’s NSW.
Member for Tweed Geoff Provest said the Parkinson’s Specialist Nurse model had already been proven to deliver benefits for people living with Parkinson’s and their caregivers.
“This specialist position provides evidence-based advice and advanced nursing services and connects people with the support they require in their own community,” Mr Provest said.
“Where communities have access to a specialist nurse, people living with Parkinson’s, as well as their caregivers and family members, show significant improvements in their own well-being, with reduced levels of depression. Hospital stays can also be reduced through the intervention of a specialist nurse.”
The new role is based at Ballina District Hospital, working across a variety of settings including outpatient clinics, visiting people in their home, hospitals and supporting the two
Parkinson’s support groups in the region.
Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurological condition in Australia, and the number of Australians affected is expected to continue to increase as the population ages.
Vice President of the Parkinson’s NSW Board David Veness said the appointment will make a huge difference for the local Parkinson’s community because this nursing model enables the delivery of seamless care across multiple settings including private homes, clinics, hospitals, and residential aged care.
“Studies show that health outcomes are poorer for people living with Parkinson’s in regional areas compared to those in the city,” Mr Veness said.
“Also, the prevalence of Parkinson’s has been reported as higher in rural and remote areas, yet most of the specialist services for Parkinson’s are found in capital cities. This presents a major challenge.”
Parkinson’s NSW, in partnership with Local Health Districts in NSW currently funds neurological nurses in four regional areas – Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Shoalhaven and now Tweed. A fifth position is under recruitment for Hornsby Hospital in Sydney.
The nurses play a key role in meeting the needs of people living with Parkinson’s by liaising between patients and specialists, educating aged care facilities, health care professionals, and pharmacists and administering advanced nursing practices. They are also working with major Sydney hospitals to pioneer Telehealth programs – enabling city-based neurologists to conduct virtual consultations facilitated by nurses in patient’s homes or regional clinics.
Parkinson’s Specialist Nurses also provide support during hospital stays and help with referrals to complementary therapies such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech pathology.
Between mid-2012 and mid-2020, the Northern NSW Local Health District increased its workforce by an additional 1008 full time equivalent staff – an increase of 26.7% - including 171 more doctors, 367 more nurses and midwives, and 121 more allied health staff.
About Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s is a progressive, degenerative condition of the central nervous system. Nerve cell damage in the brain causes dopamine levels to drop, leading to the symptoms of Parkinson's.
Parkinson's symptoms include tremors, slow movement, stiffness and loss of balance. Also fatigue, apathy, depression, disturbed sleep, loss of sense of smell, and issues with speech and swallowing. Symptoms can be managed with medication, exercise and other forms of
therapy and support. However, as yet there is no cure.
About Parkinson’s NSW
Parkinson’s NSW is a for-purpose organisation striving to make life better for people living with Parkinson’s, their families, and caregivers. Its purpose is to connect people living with
Parkinson’s with life-enhancing support and services. It provides essential services such as Support Groups, an InfoLine supported by Registered Nurses, education, counselling, and specialist advice on Parkinson’s exercise programs. It also maintains a register of vetted health practitioners with Parkinson’s experience.
To find out more, visit www.parkinsonsnsw.org.au
Pictured above:
Newly appointed Parkinson’s Specialist Nurse, Rebecca Manners (centre) with (from left), The Tweed Hospital General Manager Joe McDonald, Vice President of the Parkinson’s NSW Board David Veness, Member for Tweed Geoff Provest, Norm Sander and Helen Boddington (former members of Tweed Parkinson’s Support Group), Parkinson’s NSW Chief Executive Officer Jo-Anne Reeves (rear) and President of the Board of Parkinson’s NSW, Margaret Scott.