THE work of a Dudley pharmacist who helps people living with Parkinson's has been recognised with a national award.

Dr Janine Barnes MBE, neurology specialist pharmacist with The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, set up the Parkinson’s Specialist Pharmacy Network UK to educate pharmacists and other healthcare professionals in the management of Parkinson's.

More than 145,000 people in the UK have Parkinson’s and one in 37 people alive today in the UK will be diagnosed with Parkinson's in their lifetime. Currently, there is no cure.

Janine, who was awarded an MBE for her services to pharmacy in 2019, created the network so pharmacists across the UK are able to help people with Parkinson’s manage their condition and their often complex medication, keeping them out of hospital.

In recognition of her work, the project won the award for sharing learning and education at the Parkinson’s Excellence Network Awards.

Judges included a panel of healthcare professionals, as well as members of the Parkinson’s community, who praised the project for its dedication to improve the experience of people with Parkinson’s.

Dr Donald Grosset, Clinical Director of the UK Parkinson’s Excellence Network, said: “This is a truly remarkable network that is at the forefront of exceptional Parkinson’s care, and this award is essential in highlighting and celebrating the achievements of the dedicated pharmacists that run it.”

Celebrating the win, Dr Barnes said: “We are delighted that the work and importance of our Pharmacy network has been recognised nationally.

“Our network membership continues to grow and we are working on hosting our second national conference, and opening it up to a broader range of professions, so that they too can benefit from shared learning and a multidisciplinary team approach to support our Parkinson’s patients better.”

Diane Wake, chief executive of The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Janine was the first neurology specialist pharmacist in the UK and we are tremendously proud of the impact her work has had nationally. She has led the way in the care of Parkinson’s patients with the neurology pathway of the Dudley Rehabilitation Service which consists of a community multidisciplinary team, taking patients out of the hospital system.”