New healthcare specialist service arrives to north Mayo

Parkinson’s Ireland has announced the appointment of a new Parkinson’s nurse specialist in Mayo.

Laura Niepage, who previously worked with the NHS, has taken up the role of Parkinson’s nurse specialist, which is the first community-based Parkinson’s nurse specialist in the county. 

The service will operate from Ballina Primary Care Centre and will be available to people living with Parkinson’s disease across Mayo. It is estimated that approximately 18,000 people are living with Parkinson’s disease in Ireland, a figure expected to double by 2040.

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The CEO of Parkinson’s Ireland, Shane O’Brien, expressed their delight at the free access to a dedicated Parkinson’s Nurse Specialist.

“Laura is a fantastic asset to our organisation and brings extensive experience and compassion to her role. This service will be a vital point of support between consultant appointments, helping people to manage a complex neurological condition more effectively.

“We would also like to pay tribute to our Mayo branch, whose volunteers continue to deliver vital community services such as physiotherapy and social gatherings. Finally, we would like to thank the HSE for making a consultation room available to us in the Ballina Primary Care Centre,” she said. 

Chairperson of Parkinson’s Ireland Mayo Branch, Caroline McLoughlin, said the appointment marks a major milestone for the area: “This is a significant achievement for Mayo. As a branch of Parkinson’s Ireland, we have helped secure a nurse specialist who will provide vital local support to patients and families, reducing travel and improving access to specialist care. 

“Securing this role has been hugely important for people in Mayo. Our branch has worked hard to ensure that specialist care is available closer to home when it is needed most. This appointment will make a real and lasting difference in our community.

The service in Ballina is provided free of charge and is available by appointment only. Appointments can be made by calling 1800 359 359 or by emailing nurse@parkinsons.ie.