Guild gets behind ‘Get It On Time’ Parkinson's Msg

Media Statement
For immediate release

29 October, 2008

Pharmacy Guild gets behind Parkinson’s NZ ‘Get It On Time’ message

Parkinson’s New Zealand and the Pharmacy Guild of New Zealand are joining forces to promote the ‘Get It On Time’ campaign during Parkinson’s Awareness Week (1-7 November, 2008).

The ‘Get It On Time’ campaign is aimed at both health professionals and people with Parkinson’s – the key message being that the timing of medication is crucial to ensure the maximum effectiveness and benefit of Parkinson’s drugs. As the health professional New Zealanders see most often, community pharmacists are well placed to drive the message home to both people with Parkinson’s and their carers.

“It is vital that Parkinson‘s medication is well managed to ensure the best possible quality of life so we’re thrilled to have pharmacists on board to really emphasise this message,” says Parkinson’s New Zealand National Director, Deirdre O’Sullivan.

Pharmacists are experts in helping people get the best results from their medicines and are experienced in supporting people with long-term conditions. Where the medicines regime is complex and individually tailored as can be the case for people with Parkinson’s, pharmacists play a crucial role in ensuring patients take the right medicines, in the right way, at the right time and ultimately can maintain a healthy lifestyle, longer.

Symptoms vary with each person but Parkinson’s can affect a person’s movement, their balance, co-ordination, speech and emotions. An estimated 9000 New Zealanders have Parkinson’s.

Timing is essential in administering medication, because Parkinson’s drugs need to be taken at specific times to release particular chemicals in the brain to allow patients better control of movement.

ENDS

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