Event Details

We are delighted to present to you a brand new theme for the 2020/2021 Public Lectures Series: ‘Talking about…’, and warmly invite you to join our researchers as they explore some of the most pressing issues facing the country.

About the Lecture

How has Covid-19 affected the most vulnerable citizens in our country? Exploring data collected from care homes and the national charity Parkinson's UK, three experts from Lancaster University's Faculty of Health and Medicine discuss the impact of the pandemic and successive lockdowns on the health and wellbeing of frailer citizens, what lessons have been learned, and how best practice can be adopted in the future.

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on people affected by Parkinson’s

During the pandemic, those living with chronic health conditions have faced particular challenges, both due to the added risks of Covid-19 itself but also due to the impact of measures taken to reduce the spread, such as lockdown. Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative condition which causes problems with slowness of movement, balance and tremor and also a wide range of other difficulties including with sleep, temperature control, pain and fatigue. Psychological difficulties such as anxiety, depression and apathy are also commonly experienced as well as cognitive problems which can sometimes progress to dementia.

In order to highlight the impact of the pandemic period on people with Parkinson’s and their families and consider what support may be needed going forward, Professor Jane Simpson and Dr Fiona Eccles will present findings from a survey carried out by national charity Parkinson’s UK of their members (including family carers) in the first lockdown in April-May 2020, and interviews conducted with people with Parkinson’s at several timepoints during the pandemic.

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on people in Care Homes

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a major impact on adult social care. Deaths in care homes in England over the first wave of the pandemic rose to approximately 150% of the same period the previous year. There was large uncertainty over best practice for care homes over this period. How can we optimise care to ensure COVID outbreak risks are minimised, while also ensuring that residents receive the most appropriate care possible?

In this talk Professor Jo Knight discusses findings from data collected from care homes and hospitals supplied by County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust, and the resulting most appropriate course of action in such situation, which will then be widely applicable to policy regarding infectious disease outbreaks and transmission, such as Norovirus, in care homes in the future. This work is part of the 12-month UKRI funded, 'Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on care home pathways, outcomes and safety of care' project.

The lecture will be followed by a Q&A session during which you will have the opportunity to ask questions of the speakers via the Zoom Q&A function.

Accessibility: automatically generated subtitles will be available for this event.

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About the speakers

Professor Jane Simpson is Professor of the Psychology of Neurodegenerative Conditions at Lancaster University. As a clinical and academic psychologist, she conducts research to improve the wellbeing of individuals affected by chronic health conditions, and particular motor neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s. Jane and Fiona have recently received two grants worth over £200,000 from UK funders to continue the work included in the presentation to be shared during this lecture.

Dr Fiona Eccles trained as a clinical psychologist and now works as a Lecturer at Lancaster University with research interests in the psychological wellbeing of people with neurological conditions, particularly Parkinson’s, Huntington’s disease and dystonia. Along with Professor Simpson, she has recently edited guidance for the British Psychological Society on psychological interventions for four neurodegenerative conditions including Parkinson’s.

Professor Jo Knightis a Professor Applied Data Science at Lancaster University and the Research Director for Eden North. She uses routinely collected data to improve the health outcomes of the population. Her approaches are analytical and range from understanding triggers for disease to the utilisation of health services. She also undertakes research on the genetic underpinnings of diseases. The work she will discuss during the lecture is funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

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