Oldham memory assessment and treatment service

We offer assessment, diagnosis and treatment for dementia, as well as a wide range of post-diagnostic support for people living with dementia, their families and carers.

We promote early diagnosis of dementia and provide emotional and practical support to help you live well with dementia.

We visit you at home to carry out our initial assessments.

We offer:
  • A memory liaison practitioner – a trained mental health nurse who can offer information and advice about dementia and support groups
  • Occupational therapy, psychology support and other specialist assessments
  • Advice and support to help you remain independent and live well with dementia
  • Signposting to other third sector agencies such as AGE UK and Making Space
  • A 'Dementia Hub' every Wednesday, more details below

You can contact our team on 0161 716 2792 or Oldhammas@nhs.net

You may need help from local services as your dementia progresses, we've put some more info below to help with accessing support:

  1. Ask your GP to re-refer you to the memory service - your GP will arrange a blood test and send us your updated medical summary
  2. We will contact you to discuss what input you need at this time:
  • Telephone review with nurse
  • Bookable 1-1 support sessions held at our office
  • Follow up appointment with psychiatrist
  • Appointment at home where necessary
  • Psychological support
  • Occupational therapy assessment
  • Referral to our specialist groups
  • Signposting to local services

3. We will discharge you from memory service once this input is complete

We aim to offer you an appointment with a memory liaison practitioner (a specialist nurse) within three weeks. It can take
longer to access appointments with other clinicians in the team. You may need more than one appointment.

We can offer different types of appointment depending on what you need:


• Telephone review with a memory liaison practitioner


• Bookable 1:1 support and advice sessions (face-to-face)

  • Held at our office in Block 4, Southlink Business Park, OL4 1DE
  • Available monthly on Tuesdays afternoons and lasting 45 minutes

• Outpatient psychiatry appointment in memory clinic

  • Often held at Cherrywood clinic, Royal Oldham Hospital
  • Also held at GP surgeries in Failsworth, Glodwick, Saddleworth, Chadderton and Alkrington where this is easier for you to attend

• Review at home

  • Arranged where other options are unsuitable e.g. due to mobility
  • Usually offered by your memory liaison practitioner

We offer three groups for patients and carers following a dementia diagnosis. These groups are by referral only:

  • Brain gym: cognitive stimulation therapy for people with mild-moderate dementia. This group is for patients only.
  • Carers group: a carers-only group for sharing experiences, understanding your values and helping to give meaning back to everyday tasks.
  • Dementia support and information group: learn from guest speakers, facilitators and each other to improve quality of life and knowledge about dementia. This group is for both patients and carers.

If you have dementia, then we unfortunately expect that your memory and other thinking skills will decline over time. Please contact us if these changes are putting you or your family at any risk or if they are causing any distress.

We do not usually retest you once you have a dementia diagnosis and we will instead focus on your abilities and support needs.

You can ring us on 0161 716 2792 for general signposting advice but we will need a referral from your GP before we can offer you any appointments or treatment.

We have redesigned our service so that we can be more readily accessible to you when you need us most. We will only discharge you if we feel it is safe to do so and this will not prevent you from accessing our service again in future as your needs change.

Oldham Dementia Hub is at the Dr Kershaw's Hospice site, sessions every Wednesday from 10am - 12pm and 1 - 3pm.

Our team from the memory service run it alongside colleagues from Dr Kershaw's and Age UK Oldham.

You are welcome to come if you are living with dementia, are a carer for someone who has dementia, or if you have concerns about yourself or a loved one.

Nurses specialising in dementia care and palliative care will be available for support. There are opportunities to socialise and offer and receive peer support from others in similar circumstances, and even to receive some pampering and therapy.

For more information, contact us on 0161 716 2792 or the Dr Kershaw's team on 0161 624 2727.

Watch our Oldham Dementia Hub video to hear from some others who attend.

We recognise that problems can arise at any time and that we are not always available when you need help.

Our office hours are Monday to Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm and you can call us on 0161 716 2792 and ask to speak to any clinician for advice.  We need a referral from your GP before we can offer you any appointments or treatment.

The Alzheimer’s Society run the Dementia Connect Support line 7 days a week on 0300 222 1122 or you can speak to
an online advisor at www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/national-dementia-helpline/live-online-advice

Sudden changes in your presentation are often a sign of an underlying physical health problem such as an infection and
are not typical of most types of dementia. Your GP can screen for infection through a blood or urine test.

The walk-in centre for Oldham is the Integrated Care Centre, New Radcliffe Street, OL1 1NL and is open 8am to 8pm.

Please call 999 in the event of a health emergency.

If you need to contact social services in an emergency outside working hours, call the emergency duty team on 0161 770 6936.

Memory Assessment Service

0161 716 2792

oldhammas@nhs.net

Age UK Oldham Dementia Service- support for  patient’s and carers

0161 622 9312

Alison.Nickson@ageukoldham.org.uk

Alzheimer’s Society Connect helpline

0333 150 3456

Adult Social Care (Oldham)

Normal working hours Mon-Fri 9-5

0161 770 7777

Adult Social Care (Oldham)

Emergency out of hours/ weekends

0161 770 6936

Adult Social Care (Rochdale)-

Normal working hours Mon-Fri 9-5

0300 303 8886

Adult Social Care (Rochdale) Emergency out of hours/ weekends

0300 303 8875

Making Space- dementia support and activities

0161 633 2403

Dementia UK- Admiral nurse helpline-

Mon-Fri 9am-9pm / Sat-Sun 9am-5pm

0800 888 6678

helpline@dementiauk.org

Silverline- 24 hour support helpline for over 60’s

0800 4 708090

Pennine 24 hour Mental Health Helpline

0800 014 9995

You can register online to take part in dementia research at www.joindementiaresearch.nihr.ac.uk or by calling Alzheimer’s Research UK 0300 111 5 111.

To see current findings, visit https://demruk.org/