Croydon Memory Service wins international award

Alzheimer's expert wins international award for Croydon-based service

Professor Sube Banerjee, one of the world's leading experts on Alzheimer's disease, has received an international award for his work in establishing a Memory Service in Croydon.

The award was presented at the 26^th Annual International Conference of Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI) held in Toronto between 26 and 29 March 2011. The award was presented last night by ADI and the Fondation Médéric Alzheimer (France).

Professor Banerjee is a consultant psychiatrist and clinical director of the pioneering Memory Service, run by South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, which has blazed a trail in the early intervention and management of dementia. Based at Heavers Resource Centre, Croydon, the service provides a comprehensive assessment of an individual's memory capabilities to make a diagnosis accurately and quickly. If appropriate, the patient is then offered medical treatment and a range of therapies to help minimize the problems their poor memory causes.

Professor Banerjee, who also co-authored the landmark National Dementia Strategy, said: "The biggest problem we're facing today is that only a third of people with dementia ever receive a proper diagnosis and usually when it is too late. The Croydon Memory Service Model provides a solution to this problem.  Early diagnosis and intervention can be achieved for all."

Research by Dr. Banerjee's team showed the service can increase by up to six times the proportion of people diagnosed with dementia. This is because the memory service speeds up the rate of diagnosis by providing rapid assessment and diagnosis of patients where traditionally, upon referral by their GP, they would have waited months to see a psychiatrist for diagnosis. The evidence also showed that the service benefits everyone affected by the disease, including patients, caregivers, doctors, social workers and society in general.

The innovative Memory Service is designed to make the health system work better for everyone affected by dementia through earlier diagnosis and intervention. Family members are involved in assessment and feedback sessions and receive a range of services to help minimize the challenges of coping with dementia.

Professor Banerjee explained: "This allows people with dementia and their families to make their own choices and to decide their own futures. It decreases institutionalization, prevents caregiver strain, promotes good quality of life and helps people to live well with dementia."

The ADI award was for the best evidence-based psychosocial intervention for people with dementia and their caregivers. Psychosocial research is any that covers both the social and psychological aspects of a patient's life and benefits both patients and carers. Marc Wortmann, Executive Director of ADI, said the Croydon Memory Service demonstrates that creativity and community resources can produce a practical and effective program for the diagnosis and treatment of dementia with amazing results.

General practitioners (GPs) are supported by the Memory Service in making referrals of people with memory difficulties or other symptoms of possible dementia. Anyone experiencing memory problems should see their GP in the first instance.