For people with emerging cognitive difficulties, Adult Mental Health may assess patients aged up to, and including, 64 and make an onward referral, if appropriate, to dementia services.
Assessment
Please ensure screening blood tests have been completed prior to, or at referral: FBC, U&E, LFT, TFT, B12, Folate, Glucose, Calcium. Our Dementia page gives a full account of investigations, referral and supportive services.
Capacity
Capacity can be assessed by any registered medical practitioner – please see our Capacity Assessment advice, meant to support this, and which includes a handy aide memoire. Mental health services will consider referrals for capacity assessment if this is clearly related to mental illness and there is a specific question to be answered.
Learning Disability is not assessed by Adult Mental Health – instead please refer to the Community Learning Disability Team.
Please note that if there is evidence of rapid onset, or unusual features AND headache, then consider imaging. Where there is a need to exclude tumour (or another intracranial mass) or hydrocephalus it may be reasonable to request CT Head at the same time as referring to secondary care: https://apps.nhslothian.scot/refhelp/Neurology/Neuroradiology
This page has been updated without specialty input by C.M, Referral Advisor 14-7-26
