title: A memory clinic v. traditional community mental health team service: comparison of costs and quality.
abstract: Aims and method To compare the cost and quality of a memory-clinic-based service (MCS) with a traditional community mental health team (CMHT) service. Using a retrospective case-note review, we studied two groups, each with 33 participants. Consecutive referrals for diagnostic 'memory' assessments over 4 months were evaluated. Participants were evaluated for up to 6 months. Results The MCS was less costly than the CMHT service but the difference was not statistically significant (mean cost for MCS was £742, mean cost for CMHT service was £807). The MCS offered more multidisciplinary and comprehensive care, including: pre- and post-diagnostic counselling, more systematic screening of blood for reversible causes of dementia, more use of structured assessment instruments in patients/carers, signposting to the third sector as well as more consistent copying of letters to patients/carers. Clinical implications An MCS service offered more comprehensive and multidisciplinary service at no extra cost to secondary care.
authors.affiliation: Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust.
authors.forename: Judy Sasha
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Rubinsztein
authors.affiliation: Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust.
authors.forename: Marelna Janse
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: van Rensburg
authors.affiliation: Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust.
authors.forename: Zerak
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Al-Salihy
authors.affiliation: Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Girling
authors.affiliation: University of Cambridge.
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lafortune
authors.affiliation: King's College London.
authors.forename: Muralikrishnan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Radhakrishnan
authors.affiliation: University of Cambridge.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brayne