Ivan Dean, Speeches Index

Thursday 18 November 2010

PARKINSON'S DISEASE

Mr DEAN ( Windermere ) - I raise with members today the matter of Parkinson's disease and give a little bit of a background into this and what is happening in Tasmania. Parkinson's disease is a common brain disease, second in frequency to Alzheimer's disease in people over the age of 60.

It is estimated that at least 100 000 Australians suffer from Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's disease is not spoken of to any great extent in this State, yet it is a debilitating and a life-threatening disease that affects in excess of 2 500 people in Tasmania. That is, these people have been diagnosed with the disease and are seeking ongoing treatment and support.

Mr Norm Andrews OAM, Master of St John, is one of those people who suffers from this disease. It impacts severely on him and everything that he does and currently he is required to travel to either the clinic in Hobart and/or Latrobe to seek the ongoing frequent treatment he needs. The distance may not seem long to any of us but to a person severely and noticeably impacted on by the disease this distance to be travelled is quite daunting and arduous. This is what the Premier said during the election campaign earlier this year:

'I am delighted to let you know that today I have announced a re-elected Labor Government will fund four specialist nurse educators to assist people living with Parkinson's disease, their carers and families. A copy of the media release is attached for your further information.

Labor has committed to four nurse educators because we know that's what is needed for a sustainable service.

The nurses will be regionally based, and Labor will work with the Area Health Services and Parkinson's Tasmania to determine the best locations for them. Labor will establish all the nurse educator positions at the same time - unlike the Liberals, who intend to start it in one region only.'

On 9 October a specialist nurse educator position was advertised for the north-west coast but not for the northern region. Remember the Premier's promise during the campaign and underlined was that all four positions would be filled at the same time.

Mr Norm Andrews wrote a letter to the CEO of the Launceston General Hospital on 12 October 2010, where he brought up his frustrations at a clinic not being available at Launceston and he urged that a clinic be established at Launceston.

We really do not pay a lot of attention to people suffering with a horrid disease such as Parkinson's disease - until it impacts on a family member, a relative or a close friend or someone we do business with, somebody we know. Sadly, this disease progressively takes over and will result in the early death of a patient. We need to understand the disease better and ensure that those suffering from it are cared for and supported in the best way possible. One way to accomplish this is the establishment of clinics in each regional area able to offer the necessary support including the provision of a Parkinson's disease specialist nurse educator in each region.

Mr Norm Andrews gave me the go-ahead to use his position in trying to bring this matter forward into the Parliament, requesting that some effort be made to provide a clinic in each of the areas so that these people suffering from that horrendous disease can be given the support that they are entitled to and that they need in the future.

Return To Main Page.

Return To Speeches.