New passport available for patients with Parkinsons in North Cumbria
It's for them to quickly and easily share their needs with healthcare staff
Last updated 13th Aug 2026
A new “passport” is now available, for patients with Parkinsons, which can be used in hospitals in North Cumbria, to quickly and easily share their needs with healthcare staff.
The Parkinson’s Passport was designed collaboratively between North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust (NCIC) and Eden Parkinson's Group of Parkinson's UK.
Parkinson's is a progressive neurological condition, symptoms of which vary from person to person and for some people at different times of day.
The Parkinson's Passport is small and easy for patients to carry with them and it is a quick and easy way to communicate their needs, as well as any critical information about any medication they are taking. It is also helpful for hospital staff, who can see at a glance vital information that they need to know.
The three Parkinson's Groups which cover the North Cumbria Area (Eden, West Cumbria, and Carlisle) have all adopted the Passport.
The Parkinson's Passport can be found on the NCIC website here: https://www.ncic.nhs.uk/download_file/13274/0
It is also available from each of three Parkinson's Groups which cover the North Cumbria area:
Carlisle - [email protected]
Eden District - [[email protected] ](http://[email protected] |newtab)
West Cumbria - [[email protected] ](http://[email protected] |newtab)
The Groups will also give you a suitable, clear plastic wallet to protect your Passport.
John Fletcher, of Eden Parkinson's Group, played a large role in developing the Parkinson's Passport.
He said: "It has been a long time coming but worth the effort, so many people at NCIC have encouraged and helped – Patient Advice and Liaison staff in the early days, Sylvia the Patient Experience Manager, ward managers and pharmacy staff who have welcomed the passport, and especially Dr Ailish O'Callaghan, our leading Consultant for Parkinson's who has supported us throughout.
"And not forgetting the many people with Parkinson's who have explained in detail the difficulties they have had in hospitals, and those who suggested the clever way of carrying the Passport at all times in a small transparent plastic wallet, so that the essential information is immediately visible to hospital staff in arrival at A&E or in the ward."
Patient Experience Manager for NCIC, Sylvia Atherton, said: "People with Parkinson's often have very individual needs, and ensuring those needs are understood quickly is essential to providing safe and effective care.
"The Parkinson's Passport is a simple but powerful tool that helps patients communicate important information about their condition and medications, particularly during hospital visits when they may be feeling unwell or anxious.
"We are delighted to have worked so closely with members of the local Parkinson's community and Parkinson's UK to develop this resource. Their experiences and insights have been invaluable in shaping a passport that is practical, accessible and designed around the needs of people living with Parkinson's.
"We hope the passport will give patients and their families greater confidence that healthcare professionals have easy access to the information they need, while also helping our staff deliver personalised care and improve the overall experience for people with Parkinson's across North Cumbria."
The regional Parkinsons UK lead has been very supportive of the new Passport.
Some feedback from local people about the Passport includes:
Chairman of Carlisle Parkinson's Group, Mike Whelan, said: “We welcome the Passport with enthusiasm, especially in relation to the complex medications needs of people with Parkinson's - everyone is different. If it works as intended within the NHS it will be a godsend in the world of Parkinson’s patients."
Andrew and Shirley Tyson, from Penrith, say about the Passport: "It takes the fear away - with Parkinson's so many things can go wrong".
Secretary of the very active Parkinson's Group in West Cumbria, Beryl Pryde, said: “We are very pleased to hear that a Parkinson's Passport can now be used by any member of our Group who goes into hospital. Full information has been sent to all our members, and plastic wallets are available on request.”
Joan Robinson, from Penrith, whose husband died from Parkinson's said: “Admissions to hospital are for a condition other than Parkinson's: when nurses assess a patient’s condition, I hope the Passport can be an aid to care and treatment by helping them to know what is a symptom of Parkinson's and what isn't.”