Memory Clinic

The Memory Clinic based in the Heulwen Unit, Ysbyty Gwynedd provides a specialist service and enables clients to be referred at an earlier stage of their illness.

The function of the Memory Clinic is to provide a comprehensive assessment of a person's cognitive functioning when presenting with possible cognitive decline in the early stages of disease.

Our Memory Clinic provides an initial assessment by nursing staff following receipt of a referral.  Referrers are usually General Practitioners, Social Workers, Community Psychiatric Nurses, Psychologists, Occupational Therapists and colleagues working within the Trust, albeit in different departments.

The initial nursing assessment is extremely valuable as it provides background information about the client and the nurse's experiences enables the client to engage with the most approproate resource available.  If the client continues with the Memory Clinic assessment, they will then receive a comprehensive assessment by the Occupational Therapist.

Functional and cognitive assessments are carried out and the client then undergoes assessment by a Psychiatrist and Psychologist.  A diagnostic meeting then follows and soon after clients receive feedback.  This enables the client to receive a diagnosis with their consent, and this will enable treatment, psycho-social intervention and support networks to be put in place.  Clients may be discharged at this time but the majority, depending on the diagnosis, are regularly followed up by one member of the multidisciplinary team.

Community Dementia Care Teams

The Community Dementia Care Teams in Anglesey and Gwynedd provide specialist help for clients with memory problems and their carers.  They believe that individuals with dementia have a right to a high quality of life and well-being through understanding, dignity and autonomy.  The service aims to provide independence within the client's own home whenever possible.

The service caters for clients referred through a formal process, providing a service to individuals of any age who have dementia.  This may include a diagnosis of Vascular Alzheimer's, Picks, Lewi Body Dementias, as well as Huntington's Chorea, Korsakov's and CJD disorders and their associated problems.

The client may be seen in their home for assessment, monitoring of medication, carer advice and guidance and ongoing supportive interventions.  The teams will arrange and support the client's attendance at health, social services and voluntary sector day care environments and will facilitate admission to hospital, residential, nursing or respite beds.

The teams comprise of a number of different professionals including Consultant Psychiatrist, Clinical Psychologist, Community Psychiatric Nurses, Occupational Therapists and Administrative Support.  They work in close collaboration with a wide range of service providers with a view to developing joint, individualised, flexible and comprehensive care for both clients and their carers.