Smartwatches To Improve Parkinson's Treatment In Guernsey

Tuesday, 13 June 2023 11:58

The money raised from a one-man show about living with Parkinson’s will benefit islanders living with the condition.

In 2021, Vicar of Dibley co-writer Paul Mayhew-Archer brought his one-man show about living with Parkinson’s to Guernsey.

The proceeds from the event, sponsored by Ravenscroft, were given to Parkinson’s Guernsey, allowing the charity to assist Health & Social Care to buy 20 Kinetigraphs watches.

The devices detect excessive movement - provoked by the brain disorder - providing more accurate data than anecdotal evidence, allowing medical practitioners to individualise treatments.

Charity Chair Peter Neville explains what else the devices are capable of:

"It looks like a watch. It detects movement or the lack of it, and sleep disturbances and also acts as a watch with a dial on the front.

You can also set reminders to take medication. So it's a very simple device, but a very important one."

He says this will help a lot of people:

"There are just under 200 people with Parkinson’s in Guernsey, but this will help not only the person with Parkinson’s but as it improves their condition, it will benefit the carers and families who are also affected."

He added that the charity is grateful for Paul Mayhew-Archer's donation.

Chair of Parkinson’s Guernsey LBG Peter Neville, charity director Jane Tullier, Guernsey’s Clinical Nurse Specialist Debbie Robilliard, and Mr Mayhew-Archer’s godson Bob Tannahill, portfolio manager at Ravenscroft.