Parkinson's sufferers have received a double boost linking front line care to education on the disease with the appointment of the South East's first specialist practitioner/lecturer.

Sarah Morgan, 29, is now working as a Parkinson's Disease nurse specialist at the disablement centre in Harold Wood Hospital. She previously held a similar post in Wales.

Now sarah is set to inspire a new generation of nurses dealing with the disease as a lecturer at the South Bank University campus at the hospital.

The incurable disease affects patients differently but always impacts on the sufferer's quality of life, an aspect the nurses can improve.

Sufferers often require immediate information on treatments - information not always available through GPs and that is where nurses help.

Budding nurses will benefit from Ms Morgan's experience in the highly specialist role - the provision of emotional support and information on drugs to patients, the provision of education and training and monitoring of therapies.

The nurse's function is being highlighted until Sunday as part of Parkinson's Awareness Week 2000.

It forms a preliminary to a crusade by the Parkinson's Disease Society to persuade hospitals to take on more of these specialist nurses.

A spokesperson said: "Sufferers value the nurses highly and they manage to develop personal relationships.

"Accordingly, the PDS is looking to increase numbers of nurses nationally from 75 to 240 by 2005 and Ms Morgan will help prepare them for what will hopefully be an in demand role."

PDS chief executive Mary Baker said: "I am delighted that Sarah is taking up her post and am sure she will help those affected by Parkinson's in the Havering area enormously."

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