NCPC survey of end of life care in Parkinson’s Disease

NCPC’s Neurological Conditions Policy Group has been considering the needs of people with Parkinson’s Disease at the end of life. There is generally little known about current practice in caring for people with Parkinson’s Disease in the last days of life and currently no related specific guidance exists. We think that there may be are specific aspects of Parkinson’s Disease which need further attention, including issues related to the unpredictable disease trajectory, withdrawal of antidopaminergic therapies and control of nausea at the end of life.

To help address this situation, NCPC has launched a survey to establish a better picture of the current practice in symptom management and use of end of life care pathways in the care of people with Parkinson’s Disease. It is hoped that the results of the survey will enable a consensus statement to be prepared to inform good practice for those with Parkinson’s at the end of life.

The work is being carried out by NCPC’s Neurological Conditions Policy Group, whose members include a range of experts from the fields of neurology and palliative care. For more information about the survey or the work of the NCPC Neurological Conditions Policy Group, please contact policy@ncpc.org.uk