I am used to having everything around me when supporting people with Parkinsons . I simply make a referral press a button and it all just happens. A person with Parkinsons comes into clinic with a speech problem they get seen by the SALT team. Poor mobility and they get physiotherapy. Continence issues they are reviewed by the continence nurses. Sex and relationship issues? cognitive and behaviour issues ? anxiety and stress? pain? then I make the referral press a button and it all just happens. What happens in countries where this is not available? or even other services in the same country which is under funded or simply consists of a GP and little else?. I spent time last year out in Mexico working with an excellent team of Consultant Neurologists in Mexico City and Monterey City . I had been invited over as a PDNS to teach other neurologists from all over South America and nurses who had never been taught by a nurse in the field of Parkinsons . I only speak English sadly and most of the Team in Mexico speak mostly Spanish except the lead consultants. But we had one thing in common and that’s trying to improve people lives who have been diagnosed with Parkinsons. The estimated population in Mexico living with Parkinsons is 250000 people of all ages. There are no such thing as PDNS but a great interest within the nursing community to take on the role. The determination to care for their people with very few resources was obvious. If the PWP has no money they get just minimal treatment if any treatment at all. Many of the nurses only tools to give care was to care and just talk therapy. I taught at 3 different institutes and in a restaurant where we met for a fantastic Mexican breakfast. The team there had come from all over South America to join the Mexican team to learn about the role of the PDNS and how it would fit into their services to help support the consultants in caring for their patients. What became evident during this trip was the need for education from diagnosis. For the PWP their families but most of al the professionals looking after the PWP. Empowerment of the patient with very little resources available was more evident in Mexico simply because of the lack of resources available to them. Educating the families to live with their Parkinsons was often al they had to offer. It made me wonder while I was there whether we lack this drive simply because we have all the resources at out finger tips and therefore take the control and choices away from the PWP. The nurses were humbled by my lectures and I was humbled by their want to learn and care with just the basics.
