When movement symptoms become more complex, non-oral treatments may be considered at some point, depending on your symptoms. Your Parkinson's consultant or nurse will discuss these in more detail if relevant. These treatments include Apomorphine injections, Apomorphine pump therapy, Duodopa® pump therapy and Neurosurgery (Deep Brain Stimulation).
If you come across any treatment that you think might be relevant to your Parkinson’s, please feel free to discuss it with your Parkinson’s nurse or consultant.
Any patient who is being considered for any of the non-oral therapies will be referred into the nurse-led non-oral clinic at UHCW for further assessment to discuss these in more detail.
Apomorphine
Apomorphine is an injectable dopamine agonist that can be administered via an injector pen or an infusion pump directly into the skin. This drug is considered for some patients to help improve the periods of ‘off’ time (time spent in an immobile state). If you are suitable for this type of treatment, your consultant or Parkinson’s disease nurse specialist will discuss this option with you in your outpatient appointments.
There are two brands which we currently use:
1) Britannia (APO-go) via an APO-go pen or pump infusion. For more information please click here. 2) EVER PHARMA (Dacepton) via a D-mine pen or pump infusion. For more information please click here.
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is considered for some people where medication is not adequately managing certain motor symptoms, including slowness (bradykinesia), tremor, or uncontrolled movements (dyskinesias).
DBS involves the implantation of fine wires into the part of the brain affected by Parkinson’s disease. These are then connected to a battery, which will then send a constant electrical signal to the wire to help reduce some of the motor symptoms mentioned above. If you are suitable for this treatment, your consultant will refer you to a specialist Neurosurgical centre.
Duodopa is a non-oral therapy used in Parkinson’s disease. It is a gel form of levodopa (co-careldopa) medication, which is suitable for a small number of people whose symptoms cannot be controlled with oral drug treatments. Duodopa can help reduce involuntary movements (dyskinesia), immobile “off” periods and motor fluctuations. It is administered via a pump connected to PEJ tube that is surgically inserted into the intestine. UHCW is one of 22 designated specialist Neuroscience centres in England that is able to initiate, monitor and support people who are considered for this treatment.
For further information please click here.
Updated 22 November 2021
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON BLOOD TESTING DUE TO COVID-19
If you are experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, e.g. fever, loss of taste or continuous new cough, please DO NOT attend for a blood test.
Earlier this year, the Government revised the guidance on Shielding for CEV patients. All those who have been identified as CEV have been advised to follow the same guidance as everyone else, whilst potentially thinking about extra precautions you could take to reduce your chance of catching COVID-19.
Taking into account this guidance, and the evidence that most patients have now resumed having their blood tests at their usual preferred location, UHCW will no longer be providing the Shielding phlebotomy service from Monday 13 December 2021. You will need to make arrangements to get your blood tests done, as you did prior to the pandemic at locations across Coventry and Warwickshire at www.uhcw.nhs.uk/bloodtests If your specialist has requested a blood test which is due to be taken prior to Monday 13th December, you can expect it to take place at a ‘Pop-up’ clinic, as before. Any blood tests required after this date will need to be a booked appointment.
You can keep up to date with the latest advice from the Government and from UHCW on the following website: www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19
Click on the map for information about phlebotomy clinics in Coventry. You can book an appointment online at the locations in red.
Please book an appointment before attending for a blood test. Click on the ‘Book Online’ button above. Booking an appointment helps patients, their carers and family members to plan their hospital visit better, helping to reduce clinic waiting times and enabling patients to be seen much more quickly.
Location: Outpatients Department, on the ground floor. Opening hours: 8am-4.45pm, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays).
Children under 16 years old will need to book online here.
Please book an appointment before attending for a blood test, click on the ‘Book Online’ button above. Patients from Rugby and the surrounding areas are able to access the Friends Blood Taking Unit at the Hospital of St Cross.
Referrals for blood tests can be from GP's, practice nurses or from hospital consultants. Patients are also able to leave other samples, such as urine, which have been collected at home, at the hospital's Pathology Reception.
Location: Near Brookfield House, just off North Road - map here. Opening hours: The blood taking clinic sessions for adults and children are listed below:
Monday -Friday 7am-4:45pm Appointment only
Wednesday Evening 5pm-7pm Suspended due to COVID
Saturday Morning 7am-10pm Suspended due to COVID
April 2020 NEW - This Clinic is now by appointment. Please book an appointment before attending for a blood test. Click on the ‘Book Online’ button above.
Address: Stoney Stanton Road, Coventry CV1 4FS Location: Access is via the main doors, the Phlebotomy team are in Area A. Opening hours: Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays). 8am–4.45pm
Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT)
Specialist Tests - There are a small number of specialist tests where blood needs to be taken on a hospital site as the sample must be transferred to the laboratory rapidly for the test to be undertaken. Click here for a list of these specialist tests and to find out more.