From the outset, I would like to pay tribute to the important work done by Parkinson's UK and the support they offer to people with this condition and their families. Parkinson's is a life-changing disease and I do not underestimate how distressing and debilitating it can be for both sufferers and those close to them.
In my maiden speech last month I spoke about my grave concern for those most vulnerable within society and those who are disadvantaged in some way. I have already dedicated myself to reducing the number of children living in poverty in Bath, which, in areas of deprivation in the city, has been estimated to be approximately one in five. I intend to spend much time espousing the Conservative case for social justice in the coming years, which is a particular passion of mine given my mother's own disability and my work alongside the National Health Service for seven years. Recently I have worked alongside MIND, the Trauma Recovery Centre in Bath and also paid a visit to Bath Carer’s Centre. I hope to do more to support local people.
Indeed, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines recommend that treatment and care for patients with Parkinson's should take into account patients' individual needs and preferences. NICE also recommends that people with Parkinson's should have the opportunity to make informed decisions about their care and treatment. Therefore, good communication between healthcare professionals and patients is essential. It should be supported by the provision of evidence-based information offered in a form that is tailored to the needs of the individual patient.
Furthermore, I am pleased that there has been an almost 20 percent increase in the level of funding for research into Parkinson's disease since 2010. It is also encouraging that funding for medicines to treat Parkinson's has remained stable over the course of the last Government.