Orange will lose a dedicated Parkinson’s Disease nurse and beloved community member next week after four years in a specialist role when Meg Reeves moves to Brisbane.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
However, the role itself won’t be lost – instead, the Central West will get a full-time Parkinson’s Disease support nurse from late 2018 or early 2019, which will be an increase on Mrs Reeves’ three days a week employment and will be funded by Parkinson’s NSW.
Mrs Reeves said she’s “very sad” to be leaving the role, but one day hopes to return to the Central West.
“It’s a challenging role but the most rewarding one I’ve done,” she said.
“I’ve always been a nurse and I’ve had family members with Parkinson’s, this job was available, I went for it and I’ve loved it.”
While she and her family move to Brisbane after her husband Adam found work, Mrs Reeves is undergoing medical exams, and is hoping to study to become a rural GP in the future.
Mrs Reeves has loved the connection she’s had with patients, being in constant communication with them and their carers for years.
“It’s what makes me so sad to leave because you talk to some people daily and you’re in contact so much with them and their support network,” she said.
The role has involved providing “holistic” support to patients, working as an intermediary between neurologists, doctors, support groups, carers and patients, with plenty home visits.
Her role has varied from patient to patient, partially because Parkinson’s is such a “unique” chronic disease.
“It’s unlike, say, diabetes, which is very similar and people respond to treatment in a very similar way – and you can also have patients going along very similar trajectories – Parkinson’s is not like that, everyone is different,” she said.
“Each person is unique, some people have a big knowledge deficit but others have really done their research.”
Orange Parkinson’s Support Group president Bernie Duffy said Mrs Reeves had been “fantastic” over her four years in Orange and the Central West, often going above and beyond to help.
“It will have a big impact, the nurses seemed to be the in-between between patients and the neurologists, they’re a bit removed and busy and the nurses are on the ground,” Mr Duffy said.
“Meg has really got involved in everyone’s lives and knows what’s going on.”
Max Stainkamph
Max joined the CWD in September 2017, leaving the big smoke of Melbourne to come to Orange, where he stayed until 2020.
Max joined the CWD in September 2017, leaving the big smoke of Melbourne to come to Orange, where he stayed until 2020.
