Expanding Care for Parkinson’s Disease For people living with Parkinson’s disease,
Across Northern Sydney Local Health District (NSLHD), more than 5,500 people are living with Parkinson’s — a number expected to rise to over 7,300 by 2035. As the condition progresses, tremors, stiffness and slowness of movement can make everyday activities increasingly difficult. Oral medications often lose effectiveness over time, leading to frustrating fluctuations in symptom control. Parkinson’s nurse Sue Williams said the new treatment was changing people’s lives. “It’s very rewarding to see people who were living with disabling Parkinson’s symptoms regain control and return to doing the things they love,” she said.
symptoms such as hand tremors can fluctuate throughout the day, making common daily tasks a source of stress. For Shee Fong Kuang, her shaky hands were affecting her work life. “I use the laptop eight hours a day at work, so it can be frustrating when I’m in my off period,” she said. In September last year, Shee Fong became the first patient at Royal North Shore Hospital’s Movement Disorder Clinic to start Vyalev, a new Parkinson’s medication. A small pump similar to those used by people with diabetes, it delivers medication continuously under the skin throughout the day, helping to keep symptoms more stable and predictable. “The first thing I noticed when I started on Vyalev was fewer hand tremors and stronger legs,” she said. “Less hand tremors means I can control the mouse better. The stronger legs make me more sure on my feet, and I’m more confident to get out and about nowadays.” Since Shee Fong first used the drug, the clinic has seen five other patients successfully start the treatment, including the first nursing home patient in Australia. humans of sdpr: Sally Duncan Sally Duncan, Chief Nursing and Midwifery Information Officer, has more than 26 years in clinical nursing and midwifery and 20 years in digital health. She is passionate about bringing safe, secure, and intuitive digital platforms into everyday care and ensuring clinicians are trained to use them effectively. “I’ve been involved in the planning of the Single Digital Patient Record (SDPR) from the very beginning,” she said. “My focus has always been keeping the relationship between patients, carers and clinicians at the heart of human-centred design, while strengthening our analytics and research capabilities.” Through her work on multiple SDPR committees, including co-chairing the End User Devices and Inpatient and Comprehensive Care working groups, she has seen how standardised technology and evidence-based documentation support safe, multidisciplinary care. As Co-Chair of the SDPR Council of all Chairs (COACH) and a member of the Safety and
Neurologist Dr Michal Lubomski, patient Shee Fong Kuang and Parkinson’s nurse Susan Williams
Quality Advisory Group, she said her role ensures clinical perspectives guide statewide decisions. “SDPR is the biggest clinical and digital transformation in NSW Health,” she said.
Sally Duncan
NSLHDNEWS | ISSUE 1| 30 JANUARY 2026
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