Honorary Life Membership for UHSM patient & member
"Alan was instrumental in the appointment of our Specialist Parkinson's Nurse earlier this year. Despite battling with the condition himself, Alan drove the project and raised the money required to fund her post. Alan is utterly selfless and hard working and a real asset to Parkinson's UK and UHSM. We are delighted that he has been recognised with this lifetime achievement award, which is thoroughly well deserved."
Felicity Goodey
UHSM Chairman
One of UHSM's members and patients, Alan Pulford, has been awarded an Honorary Life Membership by Parkinson's UK for all the work he has done over the years for patients, like him, who have this incurable condition. The Awards Ceremony took place yesterday in Woodend Residential Home in Altrincham, where Alan is currently a resident, and in attendance was Ailish Fountain, UHSM's Parkinson's Specialist Nurse - whose appointment came about as a direct result of Alan's hard work.
In the UK, around 10,000 people are diagnosed each year with Parkinson’s, the progressive neurological condition affecting movements such as walking, talking, and writing. Currently there is no cure.
One of the most significant advances in the care of people with Parkinson’s in recent years has been the introduction of Specialist Nurses. Many people with Parkinson’s feel there is a lack of support available, so the role of the Nurse Specialists is extremely important. There are currently around 270 in the UK – and South Manchester got its first in January 2010 thanks to the support of the local Trafford branch of Parkinson’s UK which is funding the post for two years. Dr Bourne, Consultant in Elderly Medicine at UHSM says: “We are especially grateful to Alan Pulford, who is the Co-chair of the Trafford branch of Parkinson’s UK and his colleague Penny Cunliffe who made possible the creation of the post of a Parkinson’s Specialist Nurse in South Manchester. Alan worked tirelessly alongside my team and we couldn’t have done this without him.”