The Barnet Memory Service provides assessment, diagnosis, and treatment for memory difficulties, with a multidisciplinary team of specialist doctors, nurses, occupational therapists, and psychologists. Linked to the Dementia Advisor Service provided by Age UK, they aim to see patients within six weeks of referral.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusions

• Barnet resident and registered with a Barnet GP
• aged 65+ with symptoms of mild-to-moderate dementia who have not already received a diagnosis
• memory problems which may be indicative of dementia, where symptoms are beginning to impact on the person's day-to-day life
• no existing clinical diagnosis of dementia.

Exclusions

• patients aged <65 should access and be managed by other appropriate services (e.g. neurological or mental health)
• patients with an existing diagnosis of dementia made by an appropriate clinician should continue to receive care and treatment from that team
• patients who present with more advanced symptoms of dementia may be diagnosed and managed in primary care with or without the help of specialist dementia services as necessary (the memory service is not designed for them)
• patients with severe/more complex behavioural and psychological problems/risks (including suicidal ideation) are likely to require direct referral to a community mental health team for more intensive forms of support and casework
• patients with learning difficulties are likely to be receiving a service and continuing support from their existing provider, which may well be able to make the diagnosis and offer interventions, and so the memory service will be a source of support in relation to assessment and diagnosis.

How to Refer

Referrals to this service are accepted from GPs only.