Survey of Memory Assessment Services
Findings from the 2025 survey of memory assessment services, including neurology-led analysis and supporting appendices, are presented below.
These outputs provide an overview of how dementia diagnostic services are organised and delivered across England, Wales and Jersey.
Forewords
“We thank all services and individuals who contributed data and feedback to the 2025 service mapping exercise (SME), recognising the significant time required alongside other clinical demands. The findings highlight the continued high demand for memory assessment services and the commitment of teams to delivering safe, high-quality care.
“The audit process is more than a technical exercise. Sharing information across services helps to identify learning that may streamline pathways, support earlier diagnosis and improve experiences for people diagnosed with dementia and for those close to them. For us, reducing prolonged uncertainty matters a great deal. Feedback highlights how a late diagnosis can increase pressure, contribute to burnout and lead to crisis-driven care. Prolonged uncertainty can place additional strain on relationships, while earlier access to information and guidance may help ease this and support better quality of life for all involved.
“By reviewing service structures across memory clinics in England, Jersey and Wales, this audit supports quality improvement and better outcomes. The information contributed helps build a national picture to shape service development and meaningful change.”
Lynne Hagan and Janet Seale
Lived Experience Representatives
“Our data reveals continued pressure on clinical services and unfortunately shows that patients are experiencing further increases in wait times for assessment. There is significant unwarranted variation across services, exacerbated by different approaches to recording and coding key data (e.g. type of dementia).
“This mapping report has included new questions to evaluate quality metrics, including falls assessment and medication review. These show a continued commitment to holistic assessment and evidence-based post-diagnostic care. There are low clinical vacancy rates which bodes well for managing the projected increase in demand for memory assessment. Finally, we are encouraged that over half of services work jointly with neurology and geriatric medicine to enhance the assessment process, and to build readiness for the advent of potential new treatments.
“We hope that this report will facilitate constructive conversations about models of care that meet the needs of people with dementia and those who care for them in the most efficient way. This needs to consider optimum service models, as well as optimum ways of demonstrating outcomes through judicious use of routine data collection. Finally, we are proud to note the crucial voice of people diagnosed with dementia and their carers, highlighted throughout this report.”
Professor Emma Vardy and Dr Charlotte Deasy
Clinical Leads
Survey key findings
The report highlighted continuing demand for services, increase in waiting times, and wide variation in service staffing, specific diagnoses, and post diagnostic provision.
- Demand: Analysis of figures provided by services found approximately two referrals for every 1,000 people in the catchment population.
- Waiting time: The median waiting time from referral to diagnosis has increased by five days to 137 days since the 2023 spotlight audit, despite low staff vacancies reported.
- Variation in provision and model: There was great variation in staffing numbers and roles, and in services provision, with 23% of services not providing Cognitive Stimulation Therapy post-diagnosis. There continues to be wide variation in diagnoses at a service level, compounded by many services being unable to return data on diagnoses.
- Staffing and joint working: Services reported low clinical vacancy rates overall. Over half reported joint working with neurology and geriatric medicine to enhance the diagnostic process.
Supporting information and appendices
| Date | Stage | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| January 2025 | Data collection | Memory assessment services (MAS) invited to register for the service mapping exercise (SME) |
| April 2025 | Data collection | SME survey developed in consultation with Clinical Leads |
| May 2025 | Data collection | SME Q&A session conducted by Clinical Leads; Minor survey adjustments; Guidance development |
| August 2025 | Data collection | Final SME submissions accepted and exercise closed |
| September 2025 | Data cleaning | Data reviewed and sent back to services for numerical verification to ensure data accuracy and quality |
| October 2025 | Data cleaning | Data returned by services; Inclusion and exclusion criteria agreed by Implementation Group |
| October 2025 | Data analysis | Preliminary analysis presented to Implementation Group and Clinical Leads |
| November 2025 | Data analysis | In-depth statistical analysis, review, and validation by Clinical Leads, Implementation, Lived Experience Advisory, and Steering Groups |
| December 2025 | Data analysis | Draft report produced and shared with key stakeholders for review and feedback |
| February 2026 | Report submission | Report draft 0 submitted to HQIP for review and circulation |