Professor Annette Hand is a clinical academic and divides her time between Northumbria University and Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Annette has worked in the field of Parkinson’s for many years and has an active clinical, research and educational role within this area. She qualified as a non-medical prescriber over 17 years ago and continues to use this skill in day to day clinical practice. She was the non-medical prescribing lead for Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust for many years supporting and developing other non-medical prescribers. Annette, a Professor with Northumbria University, has lectured on the non-medical prescribing programme (V300) for over 7 years, supports prescribing students and the continual development of the V300 programme. Her research interests include service development, information provision, non-motor symptoms, carer strain and care needs of people with Parkinson’s. Annette was appointed to the national role of Clinical Lead for Nursing within the Parkinson’s UK Excellence Network, as part of the clinical leadership team in 2018. This role was developed to support service improvements through education, knowledge exchange and evidence based practice and support the role of the Parkinson’s Nurse across the UK.

Professor Hand is a clinical academic, specialising in the field of Parkinson's disease. She has worked within specialist Parkinson’s services in the UK for over 24 years, starting as the Research Associate before obtaining a nurse specialist post.  For over 17 years she worked as a Nurse Consultant in Parkinson’s.  As a clinician her main role is to support patients and their families and support a team of Parkinson’s specialist nurses. As an autonomous practitioner she is responsible for diagnosis and management of all stages of Parkinson’s.  She has worked on and been involved with multiple research studies at a local, national and international level, including non-motor symptoms, sexual dysfunction, Information Prescriptions and Care Needs in Parkinson’s.  Her doctorate focused on understanding carer stain and its relationship to care home placement for people with Parkinson’s. Annette also has the UK national role of Clinical Lead for Nursing within the Parkinson’s UK Excellence Network, as part of the clinical leadership team. This role was developed to support service improvements through education, knowledge exchange and evidence based practice and support the role of the Parkinson’s Nurse across the UK.

Annette was appointed to Professor of Nurisng - Clinical Academic in July 2021, a joint appointment between Northumbria University and Newcastle upon tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to drive a collaborative nursing, midwifery and Allied Health Professional agenda in research, education and clinical practice.

Professor Hand is a clinical academic, specialising in the field of Parkinson's disease. Her research interests include examining motor and non-motor features of Parkinson's, sexual dysfunction and information provision. She is leading on a longitudinal study examining the care needs in people with moderate to advanced disease and aspects related to care home placement. Professor Hand is currently leading on a project that is examining the scope and role of the Parkinson's Nurse across the UK.