← Back to Westminster Hall Debates
Parkinson’s Disease
17 November 2025
Lead MP
Paul Davies
Colne Valley
Lab
Responding Minister
Ashley Dalton
Tags
NHSEmployment
Word Count: 13806
Other Contributors: 35
At a Glance
Paul Davies raised concerns about parkinson’s disease in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The lead MP calls for faster access to specialists and comprehensive support across health and social services, including the implementation of the Parky charter's five steps. The Government is urged to increase funding for Parkinson’s research and care.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The petition e-petition 713714 has gathered more than 113,000 signatures. The condition affects over 116,000 people in the UK and is expected to rise to 173,000 by 2030. Parkinson’s patients face significant challenges such as insufficient access to specialists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and speech and language therapists.
Adam Jogee
Lab
Newcastle-under-Lyme
His father-in-law died after living with Parkinson’s for over a decade, highlighting the impact of the disease on dignity and quality of life.
Alex Easton
Ind
North Down
Suggests that best practices for treating Parkinson’s should be shared across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland to ensure consistency of support.
Mid Sussex
Paid tribute to the Big Sing event hosted by the Parkinson’s UK Mid Sussex group, highlighted Sophie's concern about dismissive diagnosis responses, and emphasized the need for mental health support and joined-up care pathways.
Aphra Brandreth
Con
Chester South and Eddisbury
Matt Eagles from the constituency lives with Parkinson’s for over 50 years. The petition received support, highlighting the need for timely specialist access and clear information at diagnosis.
Baggy Shanker
Lab/Co-op
Derby South
Acknowledges the work done by community initiatives like Derby County Community Trust's walking football programme. Emphasises the importance of coupling investment in specialist support with such programmes to improve the lives of those with Parkinson’s.
Chris Bloore
Lab
Redditch
Highlights the fluctuating nature of Parkinson’s and supports the concept of a Parkinson’s passport, which aims to avoid reassessments as the condition progresses. Discusses personal experience with family members suffering from Parkinson’s.
Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe
In Wales, 9,000 people will have Parkinson’s by 2030. There are long waits to see specialists due to staff shortages, leading to inadequate rehabilitation services and medication delays.
Al Pinkerton
LD
Surrey Heath
Described a constituent's experience with limited access to specialists after diagnosis, highlighting the importance of regular consultations.
Beccy Cooper
Lab
Worthing West
Highlighted local support for Parkinson’s patients, emphasizing challenges such as long waits for diagnosis and inconsistent reviews. Urged targeted workforce funding and implementation of timely care guidance.
Kieran Mullan
Con
Bexhill and Battle
Notes that around 377 people in his constituency live with Parkinson’s and expresses the importance of improving care and support for these individuals.
Fleur Anderson
Lab
Putney
In Putney, 163 people have Parkinson’s disease with overall NHS spending of £325 million annually on unplanned admissions. There are delays in diagnosis and the need for more specialists.
Gareth Thomas
Lab/Co-op
Harrow West
He focuses on prescription charges faced by people with Parkinson’s in England, noting that it is the only part of the UK where such charges apply and raises concerns about the financial barrier this creates.
Graeme Downie
Lab
Dunfermline and Dollar
He notes the achievement of securing over 100,000 signatures on the Parkinson’s petition. He highlights uneven access to neurological support across Scotland, with median waits stretching up to 87 weeks in some areas, underscoring the need for consistent gold standard care and support.
Ian Roome
LD
North Devon
Suggests that early intervention by specialists like surgeons can improve outcomes for patients with Parkinson’s. Emphasises the need for funding now to address issues effectively.
Suffolk Coastal
She agrees that tackling Parkinson’s must address its complexity and associated conditions like dementia. She also emphasizes the importance of ensuring proper assessment for PIP or adult disability payment in Scotland.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
He presents statistics on Parkinson’s cases in his constituency, highlighting a shortage of access to Parkinson’s specialist nurses and calling for better collaboration between the four regions. He also calls for more research into finding a cure for Parkinson’s.
John Lamont
Con
Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
He pays tribute to his constituent David Reid for promoting the Parkinson’s charter petition and highlights the impact of Parkinson’s on daily life in Scotland, supporting the work of Parkinson’s UK.
John Milne
LD
Horsham
Discussed systemic issues with PIP assessments and highlighted delays and costs associated with appeals. Stressed the importance of accurate assessment to prevent crises in A&E.
Kevin Bonavia
Lab
Stevenage
Points out that misdiagnosis at the outset by GPs is an issue, stressing the need for better training to ensure early recognition of Parkinson’s symptoms.
Stratford-on-Avon
Agreed with Alison Bennett's points about the need for adequate information post-diagnosis to avoid abandonment of patients and their families.
Mohammad Yasin
Lab
Bedford
Ruth was diagnosed with Parkinson's after a long and fragmented journey of waiting for appointments. She went from GP to GP, seeking a private neurologist as her symptoms worsened.
Twickenham
Access to specialist nurses is vital, as well as having a named GP for long-term conditions such as Parkinson's. One of my constituents faces an 18-month wait for her next appointment with a nurse.
Olly Glover
LD
Didcot and Wantage
Paid tribute to Peter Cook and Paul Mayhew-Archer for their work in Parkinson’s awareness and campaigning.
Paul Davies
Con
Wythenshawe and Sale East
Expressed gratitude towards the Movers and Shakers group for their work, highlighted the need to adopt the Parky charter to ensure dignity and independence for Parkinson’s sufferers.
Tiverton and Minehead
Urged for the introduction of a framework for neurology to improve patient outcomes, emphasizing the need for reforms in the personal independence payment system.
Rebecca Smith
Con
South West Devon
She agrees that new technologies like BeechBand face delays in licensing due to costly and time-consuming processes. She urges the Minister to ensure such innovative technologies can be introduced faster.
Honiton and Sidmouth
Emphasises the importance of getting neurology appointments within 18 weeks for patients with suspected Parkinson's, advocating for more specialist availability.
Seamus Logan
SNP
Aberdeenshire North and Moray East
He draws attention to the personal independence payment assessment process for people with Parkinson's in Scotland, referencing a better system called the adult disability payment.
Shockat Adam
Ind
Leicester South
He highlights research from Moorfields eye hospital that found a scan of the retina could detect Parkinson’s disease seven years before symptoms present, emphasizing early detection's importance.
Andrew Mitchell
Con
Sutton Coldfield
There is clear evidence that people are waiting between one and two years to see a neurologist due to the shortage of specialists in the UK, compared to 4,400 neurologists in Poland with half the population.
North Norfolk
Highlights rural community struggles in accessing specialist care and Parkinson’s nurses, agreeing with a colleague's concerns about equal accessibility for those living with Parkinson’s.
Tim Farron
LD
Westmorland and Lonsdale
Asks if integrated care boards are reassessing people with Parkinson's for continuing healthcare, leading to loss of necessary support. Suggests this is an issue that needs urgent attention.
Tom Hayes
Lab
Bournemouth East
Commends Parkinson's UK branch but tells the story of Carla whose husband lacked access to time-critical medication, urging the Government to speed up new treatments.
Vikki Slade
LD
Mid Dorset and North Poole
The number of people with Parkinson's is set to double by 2050. My constituent Carol was diagnosed at 46 years old in 2009, and there has been no cure since then despite the hope for one within a decade.
Warinder Juss
Lab
Wolverhampton West
Highlights a new course launched by the University of Wolverhampton in collaboration with the British Judo Association to help those suffering from Parkinson’s remain active and increase their confidence through physical activity.
Government Response
Ashley Dalton
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
Government Response
The Minister acknowledges the importance of addressing Parkinson’s disease by focusing on improved access to specialists through the elective recovery plan, embedding Parkinson’s expertise in care pathways, and publishing a 10-year workforce plan. She also mentions initiatives like digital consultations and integrated care models aimed at reducing waiting times and delivering timely care. Discussed initiatives such as the neurology transformation programme, RightCare toolkit, Diagnosis Connect, focus on timely access to medicines, reforms in welfare system through Pathways to Work Green Paper, investment in research including £1.6 billion annually from NIHR, and commitment to make wearables standard in NHS treatment by 2035.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.