Welcome to the neurological conditions section of the members zone. Did you know that in the UK, 1 in 6 people have a neurological condition? 14% of the social care budget for 2013/14 was spent on people living with neurological conditions, and unfortunately this number is increasing. There are over 600 types of neurological conditions recognised in the UK, which can be broadly split into the following: sudden onset conditions (such as spinal cord injuries or stroke), intermittent conditions (such as epilepsy or migraine), progressive conditions (such as Parkinson’s Disease or motor neurone disease) and stable neurological conditions (such as cerebral palsy in adults). As such a large number of the UK population is affected by one or more of these conditions, it is vital that health and care services in Hertfordshire have the best resources available to help them support individuals in their care to have the best quality of life.
The Neurological Alliance
The neurological alliance is a coalition of over 70 organisations working together to transform quality of life for people with neurological conditions. Click here for a list of all their associate members who work to support and advise individuals, carers and other people affected by a neurological condition.
Stroke
A Stroke is a serious life-threatening condition that happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off. Did you know that if someone who is having a stroke does not receive urgent treatment, they will lose approximately 120 million brain cells per hour?
FAST Acronym – Notice any of the following signs in a person you support or colleague? It’s time to call 999.
» Click here for the FAST poster
HCPA run accredited, two-day level 2 courses in Stroke Awareness for any care professional wishing to learn more about stroke.»
» Click here to see our upcoming courses
The Stroke Association is the leading charity in the UK working for individuals, their carers and family members who have experienced a stroke. Their stroke helpline is available on their website as well as a number of extremely helpful resources.
» Click here to visit their website
Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological condition that causes shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with walking. The main symptoms include a tremor (uncontrollable shaking), stiff muscles, poor balance and slow movements. If you notice any of these symptoms in the individuals you care for, contact their GP.
HCPA run accredited, two-day level 2 courses in Parkinson’s Disease awareness for any care professional wishing to learn more about stroke.
» Click here to see our upcoming courses
Parkinson’s UK is the leading charity in the UK supporting individuals living with Parkinson’s Disease and championing research into the condition. They have a helpline on their website that can be accessed by individuals, carers and their families.
» Click here to visit their website
Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune condition, where the individual’s immune system attacks the brain and spinal cord (known as the central nervous system or CNS). This damages and scars the CNS, meaning that messages travelling along it are disrupted. Because the immune system can attack any part of the CNS, the range of symptoms it causes are extremely wide.
The MS Society is the UK’s leading Multiple Sclerosis charity, championing support and research into the condition.
» Click here to visit their website
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a common neurological condition that is associated by frequent seizures. Seizures are bursts of abnormal activity in the brain that temporarily affect function. Seizures can cause a wide range of symptoms, including uncontrollable shaking (sometimes known as “fits”), becoming unaware of surroundings, becoming stiff, collapsing and other strange sensations such as tingling in the arms and legs.
The Epilepsy Society is the UK’s leading charity improving the lives of individuals with epilepsy and conducting research into the condition.
» Click here to visit their website
Useful Resources
| Epilepsy Society – information and support for carers | Click here |
|---|---|
| MS Society – information on caring for someone with MS | Click here |
| NHS – Progressive Neurological conditions toolkit | Click here |
| Parkinson’s UK – Information on caring for someone with Parkinson’s | Click here |
| Stroke Association – Caring for a stroke survivor | Click here |