Memory clinic

[Nemo24]

Hi, has anyone used or know anything about Memory Clinics/training please ? Is it online ? Where in the country did you go ?

[cat3]

Hi Nemo. I Googled 'UK memory clinics' but was bombarded with so many options and can't work out their whereabouts, and if they're NHS or private (so often nowadays private care providers use the HNS logo).

Maybe call the Headway helpline on freephone 0808 800 2244 for help with this. Or email them at [e-mail]

Best wishes, Cat x

[Hidden in reply to cat3]

That's weird, I searched for memory clinic NHS and got this nhs.uk/service-search/other...

[Writeronstack in reply to Hidden]

There's apparently one in Cheltenham according to that search function, PinkVision. Theyre saying that I should go to one, and that my condition will improve if I do - no movement from my GP though. Cheltenham is not far from where I am - that is entirely do-able

[Hidden in reply to Writeronstack]

does it give you any information about the place and what they do. I put in a few searches and it just gave addresses and phone numbers; then I googled the place and none of them were memory clinics. They were talking therapy, mental health and psychological services.

[Writeronstack in reply to Hidden]

No - no details - you have done more work than I have. Maybe I should just wait. I am in the middle of the country and go to neuro-opthalmology at the Oxford Eye Hospital. My GP organised at the behest of my own optometrist. Perhaps I should look up their brain injury work, and see if they do anything useful in that direction. Thanks for doing the research.

[Hidden in reply to Writeronstack]

Here's a bit more from the Oxford ophthalmology EYE clinic. There's only 2 with neuro experience and that involves the control of the muscles that move the eye. None of them have experience with visual processing in the brain. That's the domain of optometry, very different areas of expertise. But if your problem is ocular, of the eye, then it looks like you are off to the right place.

ouh.nhs.uk/eye-hospital/sta...

[Writeronstack in reply to Hidden]

Yes, directly an eye problem, arising after the fall, and they are sorting it. A course of treatment, and getting better over the last year. Reading steadily down their chart - visual acuity is improved. Back to being able to sew on a button. Happy husband who hadn't seen some of these shirts in two years - happy me to have been able to pull it off.

Very tired eyes afterwards, but I gather that too will improve. Thanks for checking. I saw one of them.

[Nemo24 in reply to cat3]

Thanks Cat, will have look & ask Headway. Eyes are fine so not optical issue.

[Butterfly28]

I have come across NHS memory clinics - you can be referred by a GP and typically they are used as part of the dementia diagnosis and management process. A specialist will assess your memory and general awareness and then recommend some options. I don’t know what they do if the underlying condition is nothing to do with dementia . Also don’t be surprised (I was at the time) but where I lived it came under the mental health services team.

[bridgeit]

Hi Nemo,

in my experience, memory clinics (NHS) are accessed only by referral from a GP. They generally fall under the auspices of the local area NHS Trust and may not be found easily via online search for 'memory clinic' unless you have the specific authority name under which they fall. I've added a reference below to what's available in the Cambridge/Peterborough area to give you a feel for how these services present online.

cpft.nhs.uk/service-detail/...

Two things become immediately apparent. First, the focus is on older people, i.e. over 65s (I must be 'ancient'). Second, memory clinics do indeed tend to accentuate dementia assessment as others have pointed out.

Through the NHS, the wait time to be called to visit a memory clinic could be many months, which is not exactly helpful if in the early stages of cognitive decline that might benefit from early intervention! One hopes, rather than knows, that each individual referral is triaged to weed out the cases needing urgent attention from others.

Private provision can vary in my opinion (I am not medically trained). In my experience, one of the best providers is Dr Justin Sauer working out of the Nuffield's Parkside or BUPA's Cromwell Hospital in London (Wimbledon or Kensington respectively). He runs a bespoke memory clinic assessment service for a package fee of just under £2000, after which the patient will have had ALL of the relevant tests/scans and will emerge after one visit with a diagnosis from a clinical psychiatrist.

Here is the reference for Dr Sauer's private facility:

drjustinsauer.com/memory-cl...

Dr Sauer is clinical lead at the Maudsley Hospital (NHS) and it might be possible to get an NHS referral to his clinic under the 'choices' banner. The question is whether or not, via the NHS, one actually sees Dr Sauer or a member of his team........... and when.

I hope this information is helpful and good luck with any tests you undergo.

[Pairofboots]

I was referred to a memory clinic via my GP. All NHS Trusts should have one. They come under the older adult services, but care for people of any age.

[Loveblue123]

BASIC is a brain injury and spinal injury charitable organisation which provides memory workshops as one of it's services. They are based in Salford, Greater Manchester which I know isn't near you but maybe they would be able to suggest somewhere nearer to you? basiccharity.org.uk/cogniti...

[Nemo24]

Have emailed them. Thank you 🤓