NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Use 26 November 2008 MURDO WELCOMES PARKINSON’S DISEASE SOCIETY PERTH AND FIFE MEMBERS TO PARLIAMENT Mid-Scotland and Fife Conservative MSP met with members of Parkinson’s Disease Society in the Scottish Parliament ahead of a debate on Parkinson’s Disease Society’s ‘get it on time’ campaign last week. The campaign is to raise awareness of Parkinson’s and the importance of getting medication on time for people with Parkinson’s. The main treatment for Parkinson’s is medication. Anti-Parkinson’s drugs can help to manage the symptoms of Parkinson’s, but do not stop the underlying progression of the condition. Doses and timings need to be precisely controlled to maximise the benefits and minimise the side effects of these powerful drugs. If a person with Parkinson’s is unable to take their prescribed medication at the right time, the balance of chemicals in their brain can become severely disrupted – leading to the symptoms of the condition becoming uncontrolled. Commenting, Murdo said: “There are over 10,000 Scottish people with Parkinson’s, which underlines that the condition is widespread throughout our country. I am glad that Fife members of the Parkinson’s Disease Society visited the Scottish Parliament as it was helpful to chat with them and learn more about the condition. “Many people with Parkinson’s find that they are unable to get their medication on time when they are admitted to hospital. It is a very widespread problem, with serious consequences for the person with Parkinson’s and their family. When people with Parkinson’s do not get their medication on time, their Parkinson’s symptoms become uncontrolled and they can become very ill. “I hope that the Scottish Government has listened to the concerns of the Parkinson’s Disease Society and that action is taken to help individuals with the condition and specialist nurses that care for people with Parkinson’s.” ENDS   back to top of page