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Referral
Parkinson's Disease
Scope
Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease resulting in motor and non-motor dysfunction. The main motor features are tremor, rigidity and bradykinesia, as well as postural instability. Non-motor symptoms are common and include constipation, bladder dysfunction, postural hypotension, sleep disturbance, depression, psychosis and dementia. Non-motor symptoms contribute significantly to poor quality of life and are often the precipitant of non-elective admissions.
People with suspected Parkinson's disease (PD) should be managed by a specialist Parkinson's team to ensure pro-active management of motor and non-motor complications.
Please refer suspected Parkinson's Disease (PD) untreated to a neurologist
History and Examination
History:
- Progressive slowness
- Progressive stiffness
- Rest tremor
- Impaired dexterity (smaller handwriting, difficulty with brushing teeth etc)
- Walking slower or with shuffling
Examination:
- Rest tremor
- Cogwheel rigidity
- Reduced arm swing
More suspicious of Parkinson's if any of the above is unilateral.
Where symptoms are not attributable to other causes,no investigations are required.
Follow-up care post-diagnosis will be tailored to the needs of the individual patient.
Post-diagnosis: patients will enter the new patient pathway at PHNT, receiving follow-up and support from the hospital-based PDNS, with consultant and multi-disciplinary input as required; medications will be optimised.
Community maintenance: during the first year post-diagnosis, the patient will be referred to the community PDNS. We expect most patients to be seen by the consultant at least annually and by the PDNS at least 6-monthly. Care will be provided with multi-disciplinary input co-ordinated by the specialist clinic in liaison with local services including PDNS, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and Parkinson's UK advisers.
Complex management: patients with high non-motor symptom burden, or with significant motor complications will be referred to the complex disease pathway at PHNT. This will take the form of targeted follow-ups with the hospital PDNS to address specific issues and/or evaluation for advanced therapies.
Palliative management: patients too frail to attend specialist clinics will be managed primarily in the community by their PDNS, who will liaise with the consultant and GP regarding management decisions where appropriate
Referral Criteria
- Refer a patient if they have any of the history and examination findings listed above which are not attributable to another cause (e.g. musculoskeletal problem etc.)
- Known Parkinson's (PD) (new to area or lost to follow-up)
Please refer (untreated) as soon as Parkinson's is suspected.
Referral Instructions
Please refer (untreated) as soon as Parkinson's is suspected.
e-Referral Service
- Specialty: Neurology
- Clinic Type: Parkinsons/Movements Disorders
- Service: DRSS-Western-Neurology-Devon ICB-15N
Referral Form
GP Information
NICE Guidance: Parkinson's disease: Diagnosis and management in primary and secondary care
Patient Information
Long-term Condition Self-Management Programme
GPs and patients can refer to Improving Lives Plymouth for patient support with any long-term physical or low level mental health condition. The service helps people to better manage their condition and to achieve a better quality of life.
Evidence
Meara J, Bhowmick BK, Hobson P. Accuracy of diagnosis in patients with presumed Parkinson's disease. Age Ageing 1999:28;99-102
Happe S, Shrodi B,Falti M, Muller C, Auff E and Zeitlhofer J (2001) Sleep disorders and depression in patients with Parkinson's Disease. Acta Neurologica Scandinavica 104:275-280.
Parkinson's Disease in the older patient 2008 ed Playfer J and Hindle Radcliffe Publishing Oxford
Pathway Group
Author: Dr C Carroll, Consultant Neurologist PHNT / Gary Lenden DRSS Clinical Lead Western on behalf of NHS Devon
Publication date: January 2017
Updated: October 2018
