Office of the NSW Labor MLA for Lismore Janelle Saffin, media release, 2 September 2021:
CO-PATRONS: Lismore Parkinson’s Support Group Convenor Di Lymbury, right, with the group’s co-patrons Jenny Dowell OAM and Lismore MP Janelle Saffin.
LISMORE MP Janelle Saffin has welcomed confirmation that the Northern NSW Local Health District is considering establishing a specialist Parkinson’s nurse in Lismore to provide services to the Lismore and Clarence Valley communities.
Ms Saffin, who is co-patron of the Lismore Parkinson’s Support Group, from day one has strongly lobbied the Government and NSW Health to base a specialist nurse locally to meet growing demand from support group members and for other residents newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
“I have been working closely with Lismore Parkinson’s Support Group Convenor Di Lymbury and others to provide this extra level of care and support to improve the quality of life for local residents living with Parkinson’s,” Ms Saffin said.
“I lobbied NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard and Northern NSW LHD Chief Executive Wayne Jones, and welcomed Treasurer Dominic Perrottet’s $8.6 million Budget package over four years, which includes funding to boost the number of specialist nurses statewide.”
Ms Saffin said she was encouraged by advice provided by NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Health James Griffin to Di Lymbury that Northern NSW LHD Acting Chief Executive Lynne Weir will consider using the new funding to establish a specialist Parkinson’s nurse in Lismore.
Mr Griffin told the support group that the LHD recognised the clinical benefits and improved outcomes for people with Parkinson’s disease that the existing specialist nurse position at Tweed Heads had provided.
“Ms Weir acknowledges it is difficult to access medical specialist neurology services in rural areas due to limited number of these specialists working outside the metropolitan area,” Mr Griffin wrote.
“The LHD is focused on developing support and clinical care for people with Parkinson’s through specialist clinics with geriatricians.
“The LHD also provides services, such as allied health, through the brain injury and spinal cord service, which supports people with Parkinson’s to maintain their function and independence,” Mr Griffin wrote.
Ms Saffin said she very much looked forward to the formal appointment of a specialist nurse based out of Lismore and viewed it as a major win for the Lismore Parkinson’s Support Group and the wider community.
“The sooner this happens, the better,” Ms Saffin.
