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We have 8 teams. They are open Monday to Friday, 8.45am to 5.15pm. You can call the teams on the numbers below.
For mental health crisis support, call NHS 111 and select the mental health option. Other helplines include:
The dementia and older people's mental health community team supports the family and carers of people referred to the service and signposts services that might offer help within the community.
The dementia and older people's mental health community team offers support to people with dementia or complex mental health needs while they are in the community and can be accessed through the community mental health teams.
The dementia and older people's mental health community team has community mental health teams that are based across the county providing locally based services supporting people in their own homes and in a variety of care settings. The community services accept referrals from primary care such as a GP, district nurse, specialist service, social care and voluntary services. Self referrals can be made, although individuals are encouraged to make links with their GP.
We have a wide remit providing assessment and treatment services to people with dementia and those with severe mental health problems. We work closely with the wider health community, social care providers and voluntary sector in helping to maintain people's independence and their mental health.
The Memory Assessment Service provides expert assessment to you if you are worried about your memory or think you may have dementia.
Early assessment and diagnosis is crucial when identifying the right treatment for you and ensuring our patients receive the treatment and support they need to maintain a good quality of life.
The service is run by specially trained memory assessment practitioners which includes nurses, doctors and occupational therapists. They will use a variety of assessment tools to measure different aspects of a patient's cognitive function, such as how they perceive, register, store, retrieve and use information. They are also able to organise brain scans which may help diagnosis and rule out any other causes of memory loss.
If you are diagnosed with a form of dementia, you will receive a personalised care plan. We will also establish links with other services, which may include groups offering brain training exercises known as cognitive stimulation. The service will also provide post-diagnosis counselling and support to patients and their family.
If you are worried about your memory, visit your GP, who will decide whether you would benefit from a specialist memory assessment either in a memory clinic or your own home. You can also refer yourself to the memory assessment service.
Primary care dementia practitioners support people with dementia and their families. This support begins after diagnosis. It continues throughout the person's journey.
The practitioners can help prevent crisis. They can also help avoid unnecessary admissions to care homes or hospitals.
The practitioners work with GP practices. They will assess your needs. They will also look at the needs of your carers. They will help ensure you and your family are at the centre of all decisions. They will work with you and your family to try to prevent crisis. They will also try to avoid you going into a care home or hospital if it is not necessary. The practitioners can:
After diagnosis access to support services is vital. It can improve your quality of life and that of your family. Support includes:
They can also help you to think about your finances and legal matters. For example, wills and lasting power of attorney.
In Autumn 2024 Dementia Together was launched. Dementia Together provides extra support for people diagnosed with dementia. Dementia advisors provide this support. They work for
Primary care dementia practitioners work with dementia advisors. Together they make sure people living with dementia live well and receive regular reviews. Dementia advisors can offer:
Read the Dementia Together information leaflet.
If you have been diagnosed with dementia by the Memory Assessment Service, you will automatically be referred to your local primary care dementia practitioner for ongoing support.
You can also ask to be referred via your GP or memory café. You can also contact your local mental health team to arrange this. Their contact details are below.
The team is based at Royal Cornwall Hospital, Treliske. The service is managed by a dementia and older people's mental health clinical lead.
We provide a service to hospital sites throughout west and mid Cornwall. We are available Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
The multi-disciplinary team is made up of:
We see patients:
The service is an essential component of the Dementia and Older People's Mental Health Team.
We work with patients with many different mental health problems, such as:
The service aims to provide comprehensive triage, advice and support. We carry out a face to face mental health assessment of the patient. As well as management advice to the referring team.
We strive to communicate effectively with all those involved in the persons' care including family members. Our advice is based upon all relevant information available regarding the patient's presentation and background history.
This is with a view to:
In providing ongoing assessment and treatment whilst the patient remains in the hospital, we work collaboratively with health care professionals in the general hospital setting to meet the needs of the patient and promote patient centred care. During this time, hospital wards clinicians have overall responsibility for the patients' care until discharge.
The team also support complex discharge planning. Where appropriate, we also arrange community follow-up. If needed, we can also carry out a follow-up at home on discharge. After discharge, the patients GP (or other agencies) will be notified by way of an assessment letter to ensure continuity of care.
We accept referrals from professionals in health and social care.
Referrals to the service should be completed via Maxims (internal hospital referral system). Select 'psychiatric liaison DOMPH'.
If refers do not have access to Maxims, referrals should be made using the team referral form. Email completed referrals forms to the team.
We aim to make an initial triage and provide feedback by the end of the following working day.
For emergency department referrals, we aim to contact the same day. Call 01872 252 930 if you have any questions about referrals, or if you have an urgent referral.
Garner Ward is a specialist dementia ward. It treats and assesses people with organic mental health problems, for example dementia.
Memory problems can cause distress, anxiety or agitation. This can happen for a number of reasons. We work with our patients to understand what triggers this behaviour and what can be done to help alleviate them.
Our staff get to know their patients and their likes and dislikes. This helps to ensure they are supported effectively. Our aim is to help people return home or move to a care home. We start this work as soon as a patient is admitted, working with them and their family.
The ward has en-suite bedrooms, a family lounge, garden and sensory areas. We encourage patients to take part in therapeutic activities.
Read our pre-admission leaflet for carers or view our patient information pack.
Patients can use their own mobile telephones or tablets while on the ward. We also have iPads available and are happy to support patients to make video calls using these. Please ask a staff member for details.
Call the ward on 01208 251 334.
