Patients suffering from Parkinson's disease are appealing for more money to be spent on improving their care.

Campaigners want more specialist nursing and understanding from hospitals in Leicestershire.

Almost 2,000 people in the county suffer from the incurable brain disease, but there is only one specialist Parkinson's nurse.

Health managers admit there are gaps in services for people with neurological conditions but say there is no money available.

Watchdog Link (the Leicestershire local involvement network)has organised a meeting for patients to tell health managers how services need to be improved.

Link member Mike Chilton, 70, of Leicester Forest East, was diagnosed with Parkinson's five years ago.

He said: "Everyone with Parkinson's needs to take their medication at different times and these don't always fit in with ward rounds. This needs to change and we need more specialist nurses."

The condition will be highlighted in a storyline of the daytime television soap Doctors, in which Mr Chilton's daughter, Selina, stars as receptionist Ruth Pearce.

Mr Chilton, a musician, said: "I have had to give up playing the trombone but I keep busy and make the most of the good times.

"The hardest thing is not knowing how you are going to be from day to day. Some days are better than others."

Mary Cornish, 57, of Syston, had an operation in last January to control muscle spasms caused by the disease. The operation was a success, but she later suffered a stroke.

Mrs Cornish said her specialist nurse was invaluable. "You become totally reliant on people like her, she is so supportive," she said.

Mrs Cornish's son, James, 31, of Birstall, raised more than £2,000 with a 145-mile sponsored cycle ride with a work colleague.

The money will be split between Parkinson's UK and Cancer Research UK.

He said: "Mum can get around a little with a walking, frame but at least she is still here."

A 12-month review last year revealed "opportunities for development," according to Jim Bosworth, assistant director of adults and older people at NHS Leicester City.

He said: "Unfortunately, due to the financial climate, we are not yet able to prioritise specific additional funding in this area."

Nicola Brian, director of communications at Parkinson's UK, said: "Parkinson's nurses are critical to the care of people living with the condition, but the current postcode lottery of care means that one in four people have never seen or spoken to one."

Ket Chudasama, associate director for programme delivery at NHS Leicestershire County and Rutland, said investment in a community-based neurology team was not a priority for 2010/11 "due to the current financial climate''.