The Calderdale Memory Service Healthwatch Calderdale

The Calderdale Memory Service

The Calderdale memory service provides assessment, treatment and diagnosis for people experiencing memory problems and conditions such as dementia.
As well as providing support to older people, the service is also open to people aged under 65 who are in need of a memory assessment.
The service is accessed through the Calderdale single point of access. Referrals are sent to team leaders within community mental health teams for initial assessment.
All referrals are contacted and offered a choice of when the initial assessments will take place. Assessments usually take place at a person’s home, and will include a carers’ assessment where necessary.
If appropriate, an outpatient clinic appointment will be made for the person to see a consultant psychiatrist who will deliver a diagnosis.
People are referred to the Alzheimer’s Society to help them to understand their diagnosis, and will also be followed up by the team within two weeks.
If a person is to begin treatment they will be followed up for monitoring and dosage assessment. If no problems arise, people will be placed back into the care of their GP for ongoing prescriptions.
The dementia advisors or GP can refer back to the memory team at any point should a re-assessment be required.
Limited intensive support cover is available at weekends.

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Reviews (4)

Went with two friends to be assessed.

June 9, 2024

The Assessor was cheerful and professional,offered to do both as the wife’s app. Was on a different date. Little difficult when the husband decided he would interfere re his wife,but handled firmly and removed him to the waiting room.

The whole experience was fantastic.

February 26, 2024

The person who visited me was kind, thorough, helpful and above all reassuring. She cheered me up and explained everything I needed to know. Thanl her for me. Really great.

Very difficult to get hold of when needed.

April 29, 2020

Given a mobile number, left numerous messages that were not returned. Calls not returned.Left feeling isolated and vulnerable.

Anonymous

Reply from The Calderdale Memory Service

Firstly thank you for bringing this concern to my attention. Unfortunately without knowing the details of this case I cannot give you a full explanation as to why this has happened and what measures we can put in place to prevent this happening again.

I would like to reassure you that the Calderdale memory assessment service has a process in place to communicate all medication changes to the GP, service user and chemist via template letter. Any urgent communication is completed over the telephone or via fax. There is a clear process in place for the titration of medications including detailed guidance of the process of the GP taking over prescribing.

I am unclear as to why the telephone contact proved difficult as, from January 2020, the memory service has a duty worker Monday to Friday available 9-5 to answer any queries. As a direct result of this concern, I have requested a dedicated phone line to the memory services duty worker with answering machine facility to enable a timely response.

I am sorry that this service user had a negative experience. As an organisation we value customer feedback and always aim to improve and be outstanding.

I am sorry I have not been able to provide a more in depth response but without specific details of the incident I cannot fully investigate the concern. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further concerns.

Tried to phone no just fax noises

January 3, 2020

Terrible experience. Why not give the (phone) number - it's a fax (machine) number.

Anonymous

Reply from The Calderdale Memory Service

The Calderdale Memory Services are based at the Laura Mitchell Centre.

The telephone numbers are: 01422 262349/50

If there are any problems with the telephone line, you can contact the main reception at the Laura Mitchell Centre on 01422 262330.

The Calderdale Memory Service