A warning by the NHS has been issued claiming that the UK is in the midst of a ‘neurology timebomb’ – as the number of people diagnosed with Parkinson’s and motor neurone disease continues to increase each year.
According to new figures released by Parkinson’s UK, there will be 28% more people with Parkinson’s disease by 2020. There are currently 127,000 people suffering from the disease but worryingly, this figure is set to soar to 162,000 in under 10 years.
The number of people suffering from motor neurone disease, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks the upper and lower motor neurons in the brain, is also set to rise by 27%, according to the new figures. There are currently 4,200 people who suffer from MND in the UK but this is predicted to rise to 5.330 by 2020.
The Neurological Alliance, which represents over 70 neurology-focused charities, has hit out at the government over these shocking findings and accuses them of having their “head in the sand”.
They also warned that the NHS will struggle to deal with the ticking timebomb if it explodes as they won’t be prepared, due to the current “haphazard way” the neurology services are being run.
“The situation can only get worse,” warns Steve Ford, chair of the Neurological Alliance and chief executive of Parkinson's UK.
“A crisis is looming but the Government has its head in the sand. When it comes to helping vulnerable people with a neurological condition the Government is floundering around in a fog of its own making.
“We need a leader to champion improvements - a neurology tsar, if you like, backed up with a plan and a strategy. When diabetes, cancer and stroke were assigned tsars, things really started to happen.
“People affected by neurological conditions are fed up with being at the bottom of the Government's 'to do' list. It is time the Department of Health sorted out this mess. It's not about spending more money: it's about getting good value and quality services,” he added.
These statistics follow a previous damning report in December 2011 by the National Audit Office (NAO), which found emergency hospital admissions for people with neurological conditions, have risen by nearly a third, despite the huge government investment.
MND is the degeneration of the motor neurones leads to weakness and wasting of muscles, causing increasing loss of mobility in the limbs, and difficulties with speech, swallowing and breathing. For advice about this condition, please visit the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA)
According to Parkinson’s UK, the symptoms most often associated with Parkinson's are tremor (shaking), slowness of movement and rigidity. However, there are many other symptoms of Parkinson's, not all of which affect movement.
The different types of Parkinson's symptoms are often divided into 2 categories: motor symptoms and non-motor symptoms. Motor symptoms are related to movement, while non-motor symptoms include problems such as pain, depression, constipation and sweating. For advice and support visit Parkinson’s UK.