Hospice aids Parkinson's sufferers

About 450 people have the condition in the Scarborough, Whitby and Bridlington area but in a new partnership those in the later stages of the illness will be able to use dedicated palliative care services at the town's St Catherine's Hospice.

The move from November is expected to reduce numbers of admissions to hospital.

Edward Jones, consultant in geriatric medicine at the Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare NHS Trust, said: "This group of patients have substantial palliative care needs, particularly towards the last few years of life."

The hospice has extensive experience of providing palliative care to people with advanced neurological illnesses but will now provide services to people whose primary condition is Parkinson's.

Specialist Parkinson's nurse Lynette Bayes said it was a significant step forward. "Patients will still attend clinics at the hospital – however we would expect there to be a reduction in admissions to hospital in the terminal stages of Parkinson's as hospice clinical staff will be better equipped to look after patients."