Mel McGill, recently appointed Parkinson's Nurse at Ninewells Hospital, shares her first 6months with us
The past six months have been both exciting and rewarding as I have settled into my role as the Parkinson’s UK Pump-Primed Parkinson’s Nurse Specialist in Mental Health. This post represents an innovative and forward-thinking approach to supporting people living with Parkinson’s disease with a particular focus on the often overlooked mental health and cognitive aspects of the condition.
As this is a new role and one that has generated significant interest both locally and nationally I thought it would be a good opportunity to reflect on what the first six months have involved and some of the progress made so far.
A large part of my time has been dedicated to meeting people, building relationships and gaining a deeper understanding of existing services and pathways in relation to Parkinson’s. Working across multiple specialties has provided a fantastic opportunity to connect with colleagues from areas such as neurology, medicine for the elderly (or elite as I like to say), mental health services, primary care, specialist teams and inpatients to name a few as well as professionals from out with NHS Tayside. These conversations have been invaluable in helping me understand the experiences of both patients, family members, carers and staff to identify opportunities for development and shape the priorities of the role moving forward.
Alongside this I have embraced a wide range of educational opportunities to further develop my knowledge and skills in Parkinson’s care. The opportunity to learn from colleagues, researchers and experts in the field has been both inspiring and essential in supporting the development of this new role.
I have also been fortunate to engage with a variety of external organisations and third-sector partners. Parkinson’s care extends far beyond hospital and community services and collaboration with support groups, voluntary organisations, carers and advocacy services is vital. These partnerships have reinforced the importance of integrated working and ensuring that people living with Parkinson’s and those who support them can access the right help at the right time.
One of the key focuses of the role has been raising awareness of the mental health and cognitive aspects of Parkinson’s disease. Symptoms such as anxiety, depression, psychosis, apathy and cognitive impairment can have a profound impact on quality of life for both patients and their families yet they can sometimes be overshadowed by the more visible motor symptoms. Through service development work, professional discussions, and patient-focused initiatives I have sought to enhance the existing holistic approach to Parkinson’s care that recognises the importance of both physical and psychological wellbeing.
A exciting development has been the ongoing work to establish a Parkinson’s Brain Health Clinic. This innovative initiative brings together expertise from Neurology and Medicine for the Elderly recognising the significant impact that non-motor symptoms can have throughout a person’s Parkinson’s journey. The clinic aims to support earlier identification of brain health concerns, facilitate timely assessment and intervention and provide a more coordinated and person-centred approach to managing complex presentations. A considerable amount of work has already gone into developing pathways, engaging stakeholders and exploring how best to integrate the clinic within existing services and I am excited to see this continue to develop.
Parkinson’s care is constantly evolving supported by the incredible research being undertaken by our own clinicians and researchers here in Tayside. We are fortunate to work within a service that values innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement.
Looking back these first six months have been characterised by relationship-building, learning, service development and collaboration. They have certainly been busy but they have also been immensely rewarding. While there is still much to do strong foundations have been established. The enthusiasm, encouragement and support shown by colleagues across NHS Tayside, partner organisations such as Dundee Research Interest Group and Parkinson’s UK has been invaluable. As the role continues to evolve I look forward to building on this early work supporting the development of innovative services such as the Parkinson’s Brain Health Clinic, contributing to advanced therapies and ultimately improving the experience and outcomes of people living with Parkinson’s disease across Tayside and North East Fife.