Jeremy Paxman said Parkinson's disease "makes you wish you hadn't been born", as he delivered a list of recommendations about the condition to Downing Street.
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.
He told the PA news agency: "The fact that they have ignored all their responsibilities to date indicates to me that they're not going to get any better."I don't think we're going to get anywhere. You feel like you're banging your head against a brick wall." "But the more we heard from our listeners throughout the series about the way they had been treated, ignored and misunderstood, the more shocked and outraged we became.
About 153,000 people have been diagnosed with the condition, although estimates suggest more than 200,000 may be affected. Carl Beech, chief executive of charity Spotlight YOPD, said: "When I was diagnosed with young onset Parkinson's, I'll never forget the words "incurable, degenerative and progressive" ringing in my ears as I left the consultant's room. I knew that life was different now, and looked for help.