In 2023, I began work to improve the delivery of time critical Parkinson’s medication to patients in hospitals. Since starting the project, I have seen the NHS commit to a three-year Medicines Safety Improvement programme and numerous Trusts adopt the initiative. Yet despite there being measurable progress emerging in these areas, the scale of the problem in care homes remains unknown.
This blog explores how nurses can apply simple interventions to their practice to improve care for people in social care settings.
Why is giving Parkinson's medication on time so critical?
Patients with Parkinson’s are at risk of significant harm if they don’t get their medication on time, every time. (In this case, ‘on time’ means within 30 minutes of the patient’s prescribed time.) Despite this, our records show this is not achieved with over 50% of patients with Parkinson’s when staying in hospital.
We do not know the breadth of the problem in care homes. However, Parkinson’s UK continues to hear from people with Parkinson’s and their loved ones requiring help with getting medication on time in settings other than hospitals, including care homes.
This is not only disappointing, but concerning, as we know that even short delays can worsen symptoms such as rigidity, pain and tremors. As well as causing stress and anxiety, this can also lead to issues with swallowing and increase the risk of falls and aspiration.
How our education can support you to care for your residents
Nurses play a vital role in educating their colleagues about time critical medication. To support this work, the Parkinson’s UK Excellence Network now offers the Introduction to Parkinson's course.
Our free live webinar provides a thorough introduction to Parkinson's and is aimed at teams of healthcare professionals, staff in nursing and care homes and home care agencies.
At the end of this webinar, staff have better knowledge and understanding of Parkinson's, know the needs of (and how best to care for) people living with Parkinson's, particularly in a care or nursing home environment. Staff will also learn of the resources available and be able to evaluate their own practice and care of people with Parkinson's.Change in practice
Following the training, the care home group implemented the “Get It On Time” initiative, involving specific measures to ensure timely medication administration, including:
- Setting alarms 15 to 20 minutes prior to scheduled times.
- Using “Get It On Time” stickers as visual reminders.
- Tracking administration times through electronic medication administration records (eMAR), reports and regular audits.
- 88% of Parkinson’s medications were administered within 15 minutes of the prescribed time.
- 96% were administered within 30 minutes.
- Only 4% exceeded the 30-minute window, with appropriate exceptions documented (for example, social leave, hospitalizations and resident refusal).
- Case Example – Resident A:
- A resident with Parkinson’s and multiple health concerns benefited from targeted interventions, including personalized care plans and alarm reminders for medications.
- Outcomes included reduced rigidity, tremors, falls, anxiety and stress, leading to an overall improvement in quality of life.
- Having seen these benefits for patients, the group has committed to sustaining and enhancing medication timeliness through:
- Ongoing education: annual Parkinson’s awareness education and quarterly sessions by Parkinson’s UK Excellence Network.
- Early identification: pre-admission screening for residents requiring time-specific medications.
- Systematic processes:
- Alarms and visual reminders (stickers).
- eMAR monitoring integrated into daily stand-up meetings.
- Regular audits at monthly and quarterly intervals.
- Feedback loops: investigating discrepancies, applying lessons learned and reinforcing continuous improvement through actions and re-auditing.
The structured approach to medication management has led to improved outcomes for residents, enhanced staff competence and the development of a stronger commitment to Parkinson’s care.
If you think that your team could benefit from the Introduction to Parkinson's course, book a session today.
If you're new to the Parkinson's UK Excellence Network education offer, why not come along to our online taster session on World Parkinson's Day, 11 April? This session will give you a chance to hear directly from our Virtual Learning Manager and take part in a live Q&A session.
You can register for the education taster session here.
Further information
Every minute counts. Make sure people with Parkinson's get their time critical medication on time, every time.
The Parkinson's UK Excellence Network is here to help healthcare professionals give great care and improve standards.
Explore our time critical medication tools and resources at parkinsons.org.uk/time-critical-medication-resources
“As a result of receiving 'Introduction to Parkinson's' education, we now ensure residents with Parkinson’s receive their medications on time to manage symptoms and minimise anxiety which is reducing additional care needs. Delays in administering medication can significantly impact residents’ quality of life and require considerable time for recovery.”
- Introduction to Parkinson's programme participant
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