Management of medication in patients with Parkinson's disease who are nil-by-mouth.

Parkinson's disease affects approximately 200 in every 100000 patients in London (Schrag et al, 2000). These individuals experience increased rates of emergency admissions to hospital secondary to falls, fractures, impaired mobility, infections, psychiatric disturbances and cardiovascular disease. The duration of their hospital stay is frequently prolonged compared to patients who do not have Parkinson's disease (Woodford and Walker, 2005). In addition, significant numbers of patients with Parkinson's disease are admitted for elective surgery.