Top rating for Parkinson's team

The yellow area shows part of the brain involved in Parkinson's disease

A group of researchers and clinicians in the East Midlands have been given a top rating for their work with Parkinson's disease patients.

The US-based National Parkinson Foundation has given a centre of excellence rating to Derby Hospitals NHS Trust - one of only two in the UK.

The other is held by King's College Hospital in London.

The bid to get the rating was led by a team of researchers from Nottingham University and clinicians in Derby.

Dr Nin Bajaj, lead clinician at Derby Hospitals neurology section, said: "This award acknowledges both the research strengths and clinical expertise of our dedicated team of Parkinson's disease clinicians and researchers working on both Derby and Nottingham campuses."

He said a centre of excellence provides sufferers of Parkinson disease, carers and families with the most up-to-date research, specialised services, support, information and referral services for Parkinson disease.

In Parkinson's disease, nerve cells in the part of the brain that controls muscle movement either die or become impaired.