PARKINSON'S DISEASE AWARENESS WEEK

Early day motion 586, tabled 23 April 2001 by Howard Stoate (Labour). Signed by 128 members.

That this House welcomes Parkinson's Awareness Week, 21st to 29th April, and its focus on current research into the cause, treatment and cure of Parkinson's disease; notes that the misdiagnosis rate for Parkinson's may be as high as 30 per cent.; recognises the work undertaken by the Parkinson's Disease Society in drawing attention to this degenerative, debilitating condition; welcomes the society's provision of information and support to those with Parkinson's and their families, particularly through the helpline which receives in excess of 10,000 calls a year; extends its best wishes to Mrs Mary Baker, the society's chief executive, on her forthcoming retirement; and calls on the Government to invest in neurologists and other specialists with an interest in Parkinson's and to introduce national guidelines for GPs for referral for all patients, regardless of age, to a specialist to ensure a quick and accurate diagnosis and initiation of treatment; and further calls on the Government to continue to address the variation in standards and access to services across the country.

Signatures by party: Labour 78, Liberal Democrat 23, Conservative 11, Labour/Co-operative 7, UUP 3, Plaid Cymru 2, DUP 1, Independent 1, Scottish National Party 1, Unknown 1.