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Welcome to University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust Parkinson Service 

These pages provide information for people with Parkinson’s, their care givers/carers and healthcare professionals. We hope that you find it useful, and please do let us know if there is anything else you would like information about.

What is Parkinson’s?

Parkinson's is a progressive neurological condition it is caused by loss of nerve cells in the brain and other parts of the nervous system. The main symptoms of Parkinson’s are slowness of movement and stiffness. Some people also experience tremor (or shaking) and balance problems. Parkinson’s can also cause symptoms that are not related to movement (non-motor symptoms) such as constipation, sleep disturbance, difficulty controlling the bladder and problems with thinking and memory.  

The number of people diagnosed with Parkinson's in the UK is about 145,000. But we know that more than 1 million people in the UK are affected, either by living with Parkinson’s, or as a friend, colleague, or family member of someone who is.

Who are we and where can we be found?

Our Parkinson’s Service comprises of Healthcare of the Elderly and Neurology Consultants/Doctors, specialist nurses, specialist practitioners, assistant practitioners, administrators (pathway coordinators), all with specialist training in Parkinson’s and work closely together. For further information, go to Meet the Parkinson's Team.

As well as assisting to support our medical teams here at UHP with the management of people with Parkinson’s and some Parkinsonism’s, when admitted, our Parkinson’s Specialist Team based within Derriford Hospital, will see patients who have been newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s and provide support through the stages, provide support and advice to patients with Atypical Parkinsonism’s and see patients on Device Assisted Therapies (DAT), advanced therapies and research participants.

We also have very close links with Parkinson’s UK local Advisers.  The regional team helps look after 1,000 people with Parkinsonian conditions living in Plymouth, West Devon and East Cornwall.

Specialist Parkinson’s clinics (practitioner/consultant led) are held in East Cornwall - Liskeard, West Devon - Tavistock and various clincal sites in Plymouth, these include Mount Gould Hospital, Thornbury Centre, and Derriford Hospital. 

Last updated: 12/09/23