Timely medicating 'is essential' for people with Parkinson's disease
A leading charity has launched a petition to the Scottish Parliament in an attempt to highlight the importance of getting Parkinson's disease medication on time.
Research from Parkinson's UK found that the majority of people living with the disease were not allowed to self-medicate during a recent hospital visit, with two-thirds reporting they did not get their medication on time.
Symptoms of the condition can become difficult and uncontrollable if people with the disease do not get their treatment at the right time, the charity claims.
As a result 10,000 Scots with Parkinson's disease joined the organisation at a gathering within earshot of the one o'clock gun at Edinburgh Castle.
Parkinson's UK campaigns officer for Scotland Tanith Muller said of the event: "There would be an outcry if the one o'clock gun was late or missed.
"Yet we estimate that 800 people each year are not receiving their medication on time in hospital, with very serious consequences for them and their families."
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This gathering formed part of the charity's Get It On Time initiative, which was named a best practice campaign by the National Patient Safety Agency in March.
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