Jeremy Paxman has said Parkinson's disease "makes you wish you hadn’t been born", as he delivered a list of recommendations about the condition to the British Prime Minister.
The former University Challenge and Newsnight presenter, along with fellow contributors to the Movers and Shakers podcast - which discusses the challenges of living with the disease - marked World Parkinson’s Day by presenting the 'Parky Charter' and a petition with tens of thousands of names to Number 10.
However, Paxman said he believes the charter and petition will have "no effect whatsoever" on the UK Government.
He said: "The fact that they (the UK Government) have ignored all their responsibilities to date indicates to me that they're not going to get any better.
"And I suspect that the form of words devised by the Ministry of Health will confirm that.
"I don’t think we’re going to get anywhere. You feel like you’re banging your head against a brick wall."
The Parky Charter has five key recommendations: swift access to specialists for individuals with Parkinson's under the NHS, the introduction of a Parkinson’s UK pamphlet for enhanced awareness and support, the implementation of a Parkinson’s passport granting automatic entitlement to specific benefits, improved comprehensive care, including regular consultations with a Parkinson’s nurse, and increased Government funding for research for a cure for the disease.
The broadcaster also voiced his frustration with the public’s treatment of Parkinson’s sufferers.
He said: "You want to say, get the f*** out of the way, that’s what you want to say."
In May 2021, he announced he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s and stepped down as the host of University Challenge.
The journalist began his broadcasting career on the BBC’s graduate trainee programme in 1972.
The 73-year-old added: "(Parkinson’s) may not kill you but it will make you wish you hadn’t been born.
"There’s nothing in it for the drug companies, it’s just more money for them."
"The Movers and Shakers podcast was the first thing I listened to. It gave me great comfort to know I wasn’t alone. However, I was young and so I had a similar but also different battle on my hands.
"One of having to work with declining health and yet no easy access to financial help. Having to fight and often failing to get the help needed is soul-destroying."
Source: Press Association
