Multi-disciplinary team

Keeping active and healthy is important for people with Parkinson's. In the neuroscience department we have a multi-disciplinary team including therapists who are specially trained to provide advice and treatment and can offer help on ways to manage your symptoms. They work closely with the specialist doctors and nurses.

Physiotherapists

Physiotherapists use a range of techniques and strategies to help keep people moving and independent with daily activities when they are affected by long term conditions such as Parkinson's disease. They are part of a multi-disciplinary team who can help you to manage your condition.

The treatment techniques include help with improving or maintaining good posture, balance and fitness through exercise, helping with movement and walking, helping to prevent or manage falls, maintaining or improving effective breathing and helping with pain relief.

Physiotherapists can also give you advice, education and support to help you manage your condition. They may also start to work with your support network including your family and any carers as part of your treatment.

Speech and language therapists

Speech and language therapists can help people with Parkinson’s disease who are experiencing difficulties with communication and/or swallowing which may be impacting on their quality of life or causing social isolation. As an in-patient, people with Parkinson's and their families will be offered an assessment and review service. As an out-patient, an assessment and advice service will be provided. If appropriate, people with Parkinson's will be signposted for further community based input or more intensive therapy such as Lee Silverman Voice Treatment.

Occupational therapists

Occupational therapy can assist people with Parkinson’s to reassess how they are managing with aspects of daily living. This could include helping find ways to continue working, keep up with hobbies and leisure interests, recommending changes to make living environments safer and more comfortable or providing equipment to maintain independence. As an in-patient, people with Parkinson's will be offered an assessment to identify any needs that occupational therapists can address.