Victor McConvey hopes there will be a day when people with Parkinson’s disease have access to a dedicated Parkinson’s nurse in their local health care network.

The Parkinson’s Victoria clinical nurse consultant, who established the Parkinson’s nurse specialist position in Leeds in the United Kingdom, would like the nation’s small number of Parkinson’s nurses to grow along the lines of the country’s burgeoning network of breast care cancer nurses - giving people with Parkinson’s direct access to specialist nurses.

The disease, the second most common neurological disorder in the world, affects an estimated 20,000 Victorians and 80,000 Australians – about one in five people over the age of 65.

The UK is leading the fight on the Parkinson’s frontline with 264 Parkinson’s nurses and Tasmania is following suit in Australia with four Parkinson’s nurses coming on board.Mr McConvey said Parkinson’s, caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain, is often characterised as a disease that makes people shake and slow down but he said there were a wide range of symptoms, including hallucinations, not often discussed.

A nurse of 22 years who has worked in the field of neurology for the past 15 years, Mr McConvey now travels the state working with people living with Parkinson’s and their families, helping them manage symptoms and improve self-management.Another large part of his role is educating health care professionals about the disease.“Nurses can make the world of difference to someone with Parkinson’s,” he said.

“I think probably the biggest issue that nurses in particular struggle with Parkinson’s disease, is a lack of knowledge about the importance of medication.”

Mr McConvey said medication, which addresses the chemical imbalance, needs to be administered regularly in a facility setting.And he said nurses need to be aware of the signs of the medication wearing off, which range from physical symptoms, such as the person moving slower, to hallucinations, anxious or sad feelings.

Mr McConvey said Parkinson’s Victoria, a charitable organisation, is also a resource for health care professionals with an information line for tips and advice.

# The Parkinson’s Unity Walk, hosted by Parkinson’s organisations in each state, is the largest fundraising and awareness raising event of its kind and will be held on Sunday, August 28. For more information visit www.unitywalk.com.au