A County Durham man with Parkinson’s disease has become one of the first patients in the country to receive a pioneering drug that “dramatically improves” the condition.
Anthony Quinn, 49 and from Pity Me, has now been given a groundbreaking new treatment called Produodopa. Anthony becomes one of the first people in England to receive this outside of specialist neuroscience centres.
The new treatment has allowed Anthony to return to hobbies he loves – including three-mile bike rides. He said: “This new treatment has given me a new lease of life. I can now do things that weren’t possible before, like riding my bike and playing video games.
“Even simple everyday tasks have become easier. It really has changed my life.”
Anthony is under the care of the County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust’s movement disorder team. The trust runs services across the county including at University Hospital of North Durham and Darlington Memorial Hospital.
(Image: NHS)
The new treatment is given via a pump that delivers the medication under the skin for in excess of 24 hours. This reduces the number of tablets he needs to take and it can “dramatically improve” symptoms, energy levels and quality of life for patients, health bosses said.
Jeremy Cundall, executive medical director at the NHS trust said: “It is fantastic that our Movement Disorder Team have introduced this groundbreaking therapy, which can profoundly improve the quality of life for patients like Anthony.
“Being at the forefront of this new drug, as the first acute Trust outside of a neuroscience centre, is a testament to the dedication and innovation of the team. As a trust, we are committed to delivering cutting-edge, high-quality care that can improve outcomes and make a positive difference in the lives of our patients and the communities we serve.”
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View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/health/county-durham-man-parkinsons-drug-30938058
