What will happen when I am referred to the cognitive impairment and dementia service (CIDS)?
If you are referred to our service by your GP, the following will happen:
A member of the team will telephone you to make sure you wish to proceed with the assessment. If you agree to continue, they will ask you about your symptoms and medical history. They may also ask to speak to someone close to you for more information.
We will aim to make contact with you within two weeks of your referral.
If your assessment progresses, we'll arrange an appointment for a full assessment with you and a member of our staff. For this appointment, it's helpful to have someone who knows you well to help us understand the problems that you are having. We will test your memory and thinking skills, and you might be referred for further investigations, such as a brain scan.
After the assessment, you may see a doctor from our team, who will be able to put all of the information together. This will help to identify any problems in memory or thinking and diagnose a likely cause.
In accordance with national standards, we aim to complete your assessment within six weeks.
Community psychiatric nurses (CPN)
Trained nurses with specialist knowledge of dementia, who often complete the first assessment and provide support especially when new difficulties arise.
Occupational Therapists (OT)
Occupational therapists have a key role in supporting people with remaining safe, independent and as active as possible. They will usually assess you in your own home.
Psychiatrists
Doctors who diagnose dementia and have an expert understanding of how dementia and other health condition affect people
Clinical Psychologists
Help in some assessments before diagnosis and support people (patients and carers) in talking through any difficulties they may have.
Following diagnosis, the Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Service (CIDS) will discuss ways they can help you, or someone you care for, to cope better with the symptoms of dementia and improve your quality of life.
We offer a range of post diagnostic support depending on your needs. This may include further information about your condition. You may also be offered other types of support including groups (see below) medication, carers’ support, occupational therapy input or psychological therapy.
The team can also put you in touch with voluntary sector agencies who provide valuable support to people affected by cognitive impairment and dementia.
When you have completed your care with CIDs, you may be followed up by the Dementia Link Workers.
We have a range of groups for patients and carers. These include:
- Living with Dementia group
- Cognitive Stimulation Therapy groups
- The online carers group
- Carer support groups.
Please contact your local team for further information about how to access these groups
When you have completed your care with the CIDS, you may be followed up by the Dementia Link Workers.
- You can find out more about dementia symptoms, diagnosis and practical support for living with dementia on the NHS website
- Who will help cure the diseases that cause dementia control - Alzheimer's Research UK (alzheimersresearchuk.org)
- You can obtain further support from the Alzheimer’s Society: Make a donation | Alzheimer's Society (alzheimers.org.uk)
- If you are a resident of Ealing, Dementia Concern Ealing: Dementia Concern
There are many dementia research projects taking place around the world, many of which are based in the UK. If you have a diagnosis of dementia or are worried about memory problems, you can help scientists better understand the disease by taking part in research. If you're a carer for someone with dementia, you can also take part in research.
Making a referral
If you are referred to our service by your GP, the following will happen:
A member of the team will telephone you to make sure you wish to proceed with the assessment. If you agree to continue, they will ask you about your symptoms and medical history. They may also ask to speak to someone close to you for more information.
We aim to make contact with you within two weeks of your referral.
If your assessment progresses, we'll arrange an appointment for a full assessment with you and a member of our staff. For this appointment, it's helpful to have someone who knows you well to help us understand the problems that you are having. We will test your memory and thinking skills and you might be referred for further investigations such as a brain scan.
After the assessment, you may see a doctor from our team, who will be able to put all of the information together. This will help to identify any problems in memory or thinking and diagnose a likely cause.
In accordance with national standards we aim to complete your assessment within 6 weeks.
Please use the contact details below based on the borough in which your patient lives.
Ealing
- Telephone: 020 8483 2646/2647
- Fax: 020 8483 2654
- Team manager: Weidong Wei
Hammersmith and Fulham
- Telephone: 020 8483 2525
- Fax: 020 8483 2575
- Team lead: Paul Byron
Hounslow
- Telephone: 020 8483 1800
- Fax: 020 8483 1838
- Team lead: Paulette Winchester-Joseph
Download the cognitive impairment and dementia referral form
Team locations
Elm Lodge, Ealing West Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Service (CIDS) is a team of experienced and specially trained professionals who help people who have dementia or are worried they may have dementia. The team works with people who live in the West of the borough of Ealing.
If you are referred to the service, we may carry out an assessment that helps us to understand the cause of dementia symptoms. If you receive a diagnosis, we will identify the best kind of care and support for you or someone you provide care for, with the aim of maintaining independence for as long as possible
Sycamore Lodge, Ealing East Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Service (CIDS) is a team of experienced and specially trained professionals who help people who have dementia or are worried they may have dementia. The team works with people who live in the East of the borough of Ealing.
If you are referred to the service, we may carry out an assessment that helps us to understand the cause of dementia symptoms. If you receive a diagnosis, we will identify the best kind of care and support for you or someone you provide care for, with the aim of maintaining independence for as long as possible.
Hounslow Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Service (HCIDS) is a team of experienced and specially trained professionals who help people who have dementia or are worried they may have dementia. The team is based at the Lakeside Mental Health Unit on the site of West Middlesex University Hospital and works with people who live in the borough of Hounslow
If you are referred to the service, we may carry out an assessment that helps us to understand the cause of dementia symptoms. If you receive a diagnosis, we will identify the best kind of care and support for you or someone you provide care for, with the aim of maintaining independence for as long as possible.
Hammersmith and Fulham Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Service (CIDS) is a team of experienced and specially trained professionals who help people who have dementia or are worried they may have dementia. The team is based at St Vincent’s, close to Hammersmith Underground Station.
If you are referred to the service, we may carry out an assessment that helps us to understand the cause of dementia symptoms. If you receive a diagnosis, we will identify the best kind of care and support for you or someone you provide care for, with the aim of maintaining independence for as long as possible.