Lostwithiel General Practice in Cornwall has introduced a nurse led memory assessment service to support detection, diagnosis, and post-diagnosis care and support.
The practice has maintained and improved quality of care in terms of continuity, patient/carer satisfaction, and reduced costs of referrals and emergency admissions.
Lostwithiel General Practice has a list of 4800 and two large nursing homes, one of which is EMI.
The practice has adopted a longitudinal approach: the patient and the GP usually have a long pre-existing relationship prior to memory disturbance, and there are observations and family comments about progressive memory impairment that support a diagnosis of dementia. The practice does not use to local ‘memory OP clinic’ provided by the Trust.
Further information:
- Presentation about Lostwithiel nurse led memory assessment service
- Dr R William Howe, MD MRCGP, General Practitioner, Lostwithiel Medical Practice, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0EF. Tel 01208 872589 / 873047. Email william.howe@lostwithiel.cornwall.nhs.uk