WHILE comedian Billy Connelly put Parkinson's Disease in the spotlight when he was diagnosed last year, the charity Parkinson's UK has warned the condition still remains largely forgotten or misunderstood.

Thousands of people with Parkinson’s are being denied access to medication when in hospital when taking it on time can often feel like the last bit of control that people have, the charity has said, urging greater awareness of the impact the condition can have.

As part of Parkinson's Awareness Week this week, York people have spoke about how the condition has affected their lives:

Ron Goodall, 75, who lives in York city centre, said: "My movement has been affected - walking, turning around, posture, turning over in bed, fastening buttons, and getting dressed.

"When I have an 'off period' I have to lie down and wait for it to pass. I've had Parkinson's for 16 years and have coped fairly well, even though I had to finish working as a postman and can't play my guitar very well now.

"My friends are very sympathetic to me and help. My wife Jane understands my needs and I don't know how I would cope without her. I worry about our future and pray I don't get any worse, but I know I am. I try to keep fit with walking but that is getting harder and harder now. People stare at me if I freeze in doorways or when in crowds or shuffle across a room or take longer to do ordinary things. Most people don't understand but it doesn't bother me anymore.

"I pray that one day a cure will be found and it will give me my life back.

Keith Walker, 65, of Clifton, said: "We need to have conditions diagnosed. I left work as I couldn’t cope but we have made the most of our time by travelling.

"It affects every aspect of my daily living and is still seen as old person’s disease, which is false.

"It makes me slower... shaky and hard to understand, but still me."

Marilyn Jones*, 63, Dringhouses, said: "Once I knew what I was dealing with, I immediately got in touch with Parkinson’s UK and the local group. Both have been of great help, which has been reassuring in knowing that if I have a problem, there is someone to talk to.

"On the whole, most people are very supportive. They have offered help when they see me struggling and have listened patiently even though I’m conscious of the fact that I can lose the drift of my conversation. I’m not always able to put things in the right order. There are some however, who find it difficult to understand what and why these things happen, no matter how hard I try to explain.

"Mobility can let me down, as I go into a freezing mode. One minute I walk in fairly well, then I feel myself start to slow down, until I come to a stop. Through sheer determination and total concentration, I can get going again."

*name changed at request

Parkinson’s Disease: the facts

• Parkinson's is a progressive neurological condition

• People with Parkinson’s don’t have enough of a chemical called dopamine because specific nerve cells inside their brain have died. It is not known why these cells die. Without dopamine people can find their movements become slower.

• The three main symptoms of Parkinson’s are tremor, muscle stiffness and slowness of movement. But not everyone will experience all of these

• People with Parkinson’s can find that other issues, such as tiredness and depression can have an impact on their day-to-day lives.