Commissioning guidance

Guidance on the Commissioning of Memory Assessment Services

Guidance on the Commissioning of Memory Assessment Services

Guidance on the Commissioning of Memory Assessment Services

The guidance sets out specifications for a specialist assessment service for people with a possible or suspected diagnosis of dementia. The guidance has drawn from existing service specifications across the South West, positive practice, and advice and guidance provided by a range of commissioners, providers, and people with lived experience.

The guidance is intended to be a resource and tool to inform the commissioning and delivery of Memory Services in the South West in 2011/12 and beyond. It is in line with the National Dementia Strategy (2009) and the NHS Operating Framework 2011/12. It offers a focus and guidance on capacity planning for Memory Services, and includes the role of the General Practitioner in the memory assessment and diagnosis pathway.

The Memory Service should act as a single point of referral for people and gateway to the dementia pathway for people with a possible dementia, and their families/carers. It should provide a lead for the local health and social care community both in the early detection of dementia, and in developing services for those with a dementia and their families/carers. It should provide a greater understanding of the disease and how to manage the impact of the illness as it progresses. Through signposting and links with other services, the Memory Service should support the person with a dementia and their carer(s) in navigating their journey along the dementia care pathway.

Commissioners in each locality will lead discussion with key people, particularly representatives from the Alzheimer’s Society and other user and carer groups to obtain their views regarding implementation of the specification. In addition a guidance note for primary care will be developed to promote memory services and the service specification.