Private Memory Clinic
Private Dementia Assessments & Treatment | Available Nationwide
Minimal Waiting | No Referral Needed | Remote Assessments Available
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National Memory Clinic | Private Dementia Assessments | Dementia Treatment | Available Nationwide
“If Dementia is diagnosed early, more can be done to live well with the condition”, National Audit Office (2010) Improving Dementia Services in England: An interim report.
The prospect of dementia can be distressing and can cause fear and anxiety for many families, but with early assessment and help, a lot can be done to aid memory and functional difficulties. Available nationwide, Summerfield Healthcare’s Memory Clinic is a concierge service that offers both online and face-to-face appointments to assess and diagnose cases of dementia early, whether in the comfort of your own home or in one of our clinics. Face-to-face appointments are available in our Birmingham, Cardiff, Shrewsbury & Wolverhampton clinics.
When you choose a private dementia assessment with Summerfield Healthcare, you can also be assured of quick appointments to help diagnose and address problems quickly, without long waiting times. The Memory Clinic provides early dementia detection for anyone displaying signs and symptoms of dementia so that they can receive the right treatment and support.
Although there is no cure for dementia, early detection helps people get the right help and plan their future. If you would like to enquire about our memory clinic and be seen quickly, either for yourself or for a loved one, please get in touch today.
What happens at our memory clinic?
As a national medical concierge service, the Memory Clinic was created to provide you with the assessments, diagnosis and treatment that you need to deal with dementia quickly, that also works around your lifestyle. If you are concerned about yourself or a loved one, please contact us to book an appointment. Our bookings team are experienced and understanding, and happy to help you in any way they can.
What is the process?
During the first appointment, whether online or at the clinic, our registered mental health nurses will complete a number of questionnaires designed to assess memory and cognitive function. Our healthcare professionals will also complete a physical examination, conduct an ECG to monitor heart activity, and take a blood sample for analysis. Face-to-face appointments for the first assessment are available in our Birmingham, Cardiff, Shrewsbury & Wolverhampton clinics.
For virtual assessments, we will send you a link prior to the appointment so that we can reach you wherever you are based. We will also arrange for the ECG equipment to be sent to you directly and for blood tests to be taken at one of our partner clinics nearest to you.
It is important to bear in mind that the questionnaire and memory tests are designed to help our clinicians better understand each patient, and there is no pressure to perform well or get everything correct.
We will also arrange for a brain scan to assess the cause of any memory problems and be sure of our diagnosis. A brain scan is a straight forward test that will allow our clinicians to quickly spot any anomalies, brain shrinkage, or signs of dementia.
We have arrangements with several private scanning facilities and we will arrange a referral or appointment for scans at the hospital most convenient to you.
For an elderly person suffering with memory loss, we recognise that this can be a scary or troubling time. Our clinicians and staff are all experienced and highly skilled, and we will do everything we can to make sure you or your loved one feel comfortable and safe for the duration of the assessment.
Consultant Appointment and Diagnosis
After we have the results from tests and scans, you will meet with our consultants. This is available both remotely and face-to-face at one of our clinics. The Consultant will give you a comprehensive diagnosis and the appropriate medication, and will work with your GP to create a post-diagnostic plan.
If there is a positive diagnosis for dementia, a private prescription for anti-dementia medication can be arranged immediately.
If a diagnosis is not initially clear and further input from a psychologist or blood tests are needed, additional charges may be required for a follow-up appointment.
Aftercare
At 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months & 12 month (Annual thereafter) intervals, we now have a series of follow-up appointment to undertake further memory and general functioning assessments. During this appointment we can assess how the medication has worked, understand if there have been any side effects that we need to consider or treat, and then provide a further prescription of medication to last until the next appointment.
Dementia medication
Medication can improve or delay symptoms of dementia and, subject to a diagnosis, is usually prescribed within a month of your initial booking.
How will Anti-dementia Medication Help?
There is currently no cure for dementia, but there are medicines and other treatments that can help with dementia symptoms.
Evidence shows that medication can have an important role in the treatment of certain types of dementia (Alzheimer’s Dementia, Mixed Alzheimer’s and Vascular dementia with predominant Alzheimer’s component, Dementia in Lewy body Disease-DLB and Parkinson’s dementia) seeking to address problems with cognition, activities of daily living and psychotic symptoms in DLB and Parkinson’s dementia.
How effective is the anti-dementia medication?
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the best source of evidence on effectiveness. Their appraisal is currently being revisited but they have concluded that, for people with mild-to moderate Alzheimer’s Disease there is a range of medications that have had positive impacts on cognition.
Further information can be found here:
https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/treatments/medications-for-memory
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dementia/treatment/
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta217/chapter/1-Guidance
How is anti-dementia medication started?
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance states that a person can only start using these medications with a prescription from a specialist in dementia care.
Following the comprehensive assessment by our Consultant Psychiatrists and their team, including blood tests, formal assessments of memory skills and scans to rule out any reversible causes for the memory problems they can decide if medication is appropriate.
Our Consultant Psychiatrist is able to prescribe mediation if appropriate and we can arrange to have it delivered to your chosen address without the need for you to attend a pharmacist. Summerfield Memory Assessment Centre works with a leading Pharmacy company to ensure that your medication is dispensed and delivered safely.
As we are a private service, prescription charges would apply which you will be informed of prior to any medication being issued. This charge will be payable direct to the pharmacy.
Why choose Summerfield Healthcare?
Summerfield Healthcare has a highly trained and specialised team working in our memory clinic. With years of experience behind them, this team has helped countless patients with a diagnosis and treatment plan to improve their quality of life.
We are able to offer a fully remote dementia assessment and treatment service, as well as having private memory clinics in Birmingham, Cardiff, Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton. We aim to see all patients within seven days of initial booking. We are flexible and sensitive to our patients’ needs, always putting your health and well-being first.
Book today
To enquire about our memory clinic, complete our contact form, call 0333 9000 010 or email [email protected].
Our team are specially trained to deal with your enquiry in a professional, private and prompt manner.
What is
the cost?
Although Summerfield Healthcare is a private practice our fees are low cost and structured with you in mind. Initial consultation fees are listed below:
Dementia Assessment/ Formal Diagnosis
Series of assessments with our memory clinic team including physical examination, ECG and blood tests.
Referral for a CT or MRI scan at private hospital, dependant upon age and presentation.
Consultation and further diagnostic tests
Formal diagnosis
Private prescription for 6 weeks of anti-dementia medication (where applicable)
6-Week Review
There is an option to return for a 6-week review with the consultant where a further prescription can be issued for 6 weeks' worth of medication.
12-Week Review
There is an option to return for a 12-week review with the consultant where a further prescription can be issued for 12 weeks' worth of medication.
6-Month Review
There is an option to return for a 6-month review, where a further Addenbrooks assessment and review with the consultant will be carried out and a further prescription can be issued for 6 months' worth of medication.
Annual review
Following an initial appointment, there is an option to return for an annual review, where a further Addenbrooks assessment and review with the consultant will be carried out and a further prescription can be issued for one years' worth of medication.
Contact Form (Memory Clinic)
Meet
the team
Summerfield Healthcare private medical centres are conveniently located & always administer an outstanding standard of patient care. Read more
Dr Arpita Chakraborty
Consultant Psychiatrist | Cardiff
Dr Arpita Chakraborty is a Consultant Psychiatrist that has particular interest and expertise in the and diagnosis of psychiatric disorders including Alzheimer’s dementia, vascular dementia, Frontotemporal dementia, Lewy Body dementia and Parkinson’s disease dementia.
Dr Chandrashekar Basavaraj
Consultant Psychiatrist | Shrewsbury & Wolverhampton
A consultant psychiatrist on the GMC specialist register in old age psychiatry Dr Basavaraj has special recognition of his experience in dealing with mental illness in the elderly admitted on medical/surgical wards (liaison old age psychiatry endorsement).
Our locations
Our private medical centres are conveniently located and meet the needs of families in a wide surrounding area.