MEDICARE Local has announced funding to secure a neurological clinical nurse specialist for the Southern NSW Region in what is a huge boost for the local health-care system.
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The announcement comes following a mammoth effort from regional support groups in raising awareness about Parkinson’s disease, including a large information seminar held on Friday.
Some 150 people from as far as Echuca, Albury and Cooma gathered to hear the latest information regarding the mysterious degenerative disease and rally in support of specialist nurses in the field.
A highlight for the audience was Associate Professor in Cognitive Neuroscience and Director of the Parkinson’s Research Clinic at the Brain and Mind Institute, Simon Lewis.
With the rate of aging in Australia, Assoc. Prof. Lewis said projections for Parkinson’s disease are set to rise to some 115,300 cases by 2031 - an increase of 80 per cent since the last studies in 2011.
Still, despite rising health-care costs and growing concern among medical specialists, it is not a national health priority.
“The fact of the matter is that Parkinson’s disease is probably a more severe condition than all of these areas which are national health priorities,” he said.
“That isn’t to say they aren’t important, but it is just to highlight the fact that Parkinson’s isn’t getting its fair representation.
“Each patient costs about $100,000 and if you compare that to Prostate ($65,000) or Breast Cancer it’s actually more money to look after Parkinson’s disease patients than it is for those common cancers.”
A large chunk of that cost comes from the early-admission of Parkinson’s patients to nursing homes. It is 10 times more common for people with Parkinson’s to end up in institutional care compared to the general public and is one of the biggest associated costs for Parkinson’s disease management.
“None of us want to end up in a nursing home and of course this is the biggest cost for Parkinson’s disease,” Assoc. Prof. Lewis said.
This, he explained, is where the employment of specialist neurological nurses gathers some of the greatest benefits.
25 years ago the United Kingdom developed a set of guidelines for the government, informing them of the best practice in managing and treating Parkinson’s disease. In the centre of those guidelines was the introduction of specialist Parkinson’s nurses to the health-care system, as a continual point of contact and support for patients and doctors.
“What it is those nurses do well is they’re the point of contact,” Assoc. Prof. Lewis said.
“While the nurse actually can’t stop the disease progressing… what (the UK) found was the patients felt better, their well-being was improved and they were actually cost-neutral.
“What we can tell you from an Australian perspective is to employ one of these nurses, by the time you've paid their overtime and super and all of these things; it will probably cost you around $130,000 a year… putting someone into a nursing home for twelve months in Australia costs about $35,000.
“By the time the nurse has kept four people out of a nursing home for twelve months, they have already paid for themselves – and that’s before you take into consideration all of the reduced specialist appointments and reduced admissions to the emergency department.”
Assoc. Prof. Lewis eventually hopes to see specialised Parkinson’s nurses rolled out across the country.
IF all goes to plan, a specialist neurological carer will begin work in the South Eastern region by the end of April.
Medicare Local CEO Kathryn Stonestreet announced the intention to employ the specialist nurse yesterday, with funding secured from both public and private sources.
“The nurse specialist will identify the needs of people living with Parkinson’s and other neurological conditions on a more personal level, visiting clients and coordinating their care with other practitioners including GPs, specialists and allied health professionals.”
The role will be full time for the first three months to establish the position and will be part-time after that, depending on need.
“Our thanks go out to the region’s Parkinson’s support groups for their unwavering lobbying efforts,” she said.
“Their persistence and commitment to improving patient care is admirable and the Medicare Local is thrilled to be able to bring this important service to the region. I remain confident we will find ongoing funding to meet demand.”
COORDINATOR of the Goulburn Parkinson’s Support group Gill O’Connor said that while the announcement of a specialist neurological nurse for South East NSW is “excellent news”, it’s still only a small step towards practical health-care for Parkinson’s patients.
“I feel as if that’s a huge area to cover, I don’t think there are going to be enough resources to cover that huge area on a part-time basis – but it is a good start,” she said.
“It’s all well and good for places like Canberra where everywhere you go is only an hour away, but this person is going to spend most of their time of the road.”
Medicare Local South East NSW represents an area of more than 194,000 residents and an area scoping Goulburn, Batemans Bay, Cooma, Eden, Jindabyne, Yass, Merimbula and Braidwood. It is understood the specialist nurse will represent that area in its entirety and will be based in Moruya / Bega.
“We knew nothing about this until today (Tuesday), but it is a good start… we will keep pushing however.”
She said the seminar held on Friday was well-received by both the travellers who attended and the professionals who featured during the day.
“We’ve heard nothing but positive comments since Friday. It’s great feedback,” she said.
The Goulburn Parkinson’s support group meets every second Thursday of the month at 10:30am, at the Workers Club. The next meeting will be Thursday April 10.
- brittany.murphy@fairfaxmedia.com.au