[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Joyce meets Harlech and Llanelli people living with ‘life-changing disease’
People from across Wales living with Parkinson’s disease attended a special event at the National Assembly for Wales last week (15 November).
The event, held at the iconic Pierhead building in Cardiff Bay, was organised by Parkinson’s UK. The charity is calling for better access to essential therapeutic services. The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, the College of Occupational Therapists and the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists are supporting the campaign.
Elaine Evans from Harlech, who has been living with the condition for 16 years, spoke with Mid and West Wales AM Joyce Watson.
“We have some excellent therapy services in north Wales, the difficulty is in accessing them from rural communities.
“We should be trying to bring therapies out to communities, either through the GP surgeries or looking at new IT methods, rather than people having to make 80-mile trips to the hospital,” Ms Evans said.
Parkinson’s is a degenerative neurological condition for which there currently is no cure. The main symptoms are tremors, slowness of movement and rigidity. It affects around 8,000 people in Wales.
Mrs Watson spoke with Llanelli residents Bryan and Dilys Kinnear, and Diane Kay. The Labour AM said:
“Parkinson’s is a life-changing disease – confusing, distressing, debilitating, for sufferers and friends and family. I am hugely grateful to Elaine, Bryan, Dilys and Diane – inspirational people – for taking the time to come here today, for sharing their stories with us.
“The Welsh Government’s neurological conditions delivery plan has improved hospital care, with people receiving better, faster treatment. Community-based therapy is essential too. I will follow up the issues we have talked about today.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
