The Department of Health and Social Care’s Older Persons Mental Health Service has been reaccredited by the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Memory Services National Accreditation Programme (MSNAP) as ‘excellent’.
 
Michael Coleman MLC, Member for the Department of Health and Social Care with responsibility for the Mental Health Service said: “In receiving the highest rating of ‘excellent’, the Memory Service has demonstrated the consistently high standard of care available to those who develop dementia and memory problems, as well as their families and carers.  I extend my congratulations to the entire team for their continued hard work and dedication in delivering excellent care and support to some of the most vulnerable in our society.”
 
The Memory Service provides specialist assessment, investigation, diagnosis and treatment to persons experiencing memory problems and support for their carers. Whilst memory problems become more prevalent in older people, the service is also open to younger people who might benefit from a memory assessment. Some memory problems occur as part of the ageing process, and are not related to brain degeneration which can be associated with dementia.
 
MSNAP was developed by the Royal College of Psychiatrists to assure and improve the quality of care for people with memory problems and dementia and their carers. The accreditation process takes a holistic view of care from both the professional side and the patient’s perspective in a comprehensive process of review, through which good practice and high quality care are recognised. Involving service users and carers is a MSNAP priority, and people with first-hand experience of using the Service are encouraged to get involved in all stages of the accreditation process.
 
Kelvin Rossiter, Clinical Nurse Specialist of the Older Persons Mental Health Service, said: “In receiving the reaccreditation, the Department’s Memory Service meets the very highest UK standards and is able to benchmark against other Memory Services across the UK. This demonstrates the high quality service that patients and carers will receive which is person-centred, needs-led and takes into account their unique and changing personal, psychosocial and physical needs.”
 
Photo - Mr Coleman MLC; Michaela Morris (Executive Director of Health); Paul Jackson (Manager Older Persons Mental Health) and Kelvin Rossiter.