Community dementia assessments cut diagnosis waits down to 10 days
A new community dementia assessment approach is delivering dramatic improvements to the way people in Northamptonshire access testing - and cutting waits for diagnosis from months to just a few days.
NHFT has teamed up with partners to provide same-day testing in Corby for people with dementia symptoms. This begins with a face-to-face appointment with NHFT's Memory Assessment Service, followed by a CT or MRI scan at the town's new Community Diagnostic Centre, which is operated by Kettering General Hospital.
Previously, patients would have to wait for a separate scan appointment in hospital after their initial memory assessment. From there they could expect to wait upwards of 16 to 20 weeks for their test results.
Now the testing all takes place in one day with the Memory Assessment Service sharing results in a follow-up meeting within 10 days, and often sooner.
Adam Smith, Director of Mental Health at NHFT, said: "Feedback from service users and families made it really clear to us that long waits for results were adding to the worry and stress of dealing with a potential dementia diagnosis - as was having to travel to
different appointments in different places on separate days.
"The opening of Corby's new Community Diagnostic Centre in June gave us a chance to work with our partners to change that for the better. Now we have scan appointments booked out every Monday for our patients so we can coordinate memory assessments
to take place on the same day, just down the road at our Stuart Road Clinic.
And with results now provided the following week, people can get that reassurance of the all-clear or the opportunity to access support for dementia significantly earlier than before."
NHFT is working with voluntary and community sector partners Northamptonshire Carers, the Alzheimer's Society and Northamptonshire Black Communities Together to provide support and guidance through testing and after diagnosis.
This includes reaching out to ethnic minority groups who are traditionally less likely to receive dementia support.
Launched in July 2025, the new pathway has not only brought testing closer to home for patients in the Corby, Kettering and East Northamptonshire areas - it's also more than halved the waiting list for those waiting for assessment.
It is due to be expanded to patients in Rushden and Wellingborough shortly, with scope to do the same in West Northamptonshire in future.
Project lead Julie Quincey, of Northamptonshire Carers, said: "This new pathway brings together NHS and community partners to provide a faster, more inclusive diagnostic journey, including targeted outreach in underserved communities. Dedicated Care Navigators connect patients and carers to timely post-diagnostic support from NHFT, Northamptonshire Carers and the Alzheimer's Society. The pathway is currently being evaluated by the University of Northampton and is already viewed by NHS England as an exemplar model."