A Survey of Memory Clinics in New Zealand

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this survey was to identify all the publicly funded memory clinics in the 21 District Health Boards (DHBs) in New Zealand.

Method: Information on the provision of memory clinics was obtained by emailing the old age psychiatrists’ group and making telephone contact with clinicians working in old age psychiatry/geriatric services. A brief structured questionnaire was completed by the memory clinic lead clinicians.

Results: There are eight memory clinics in New Zealand, funded equally between mental health services and geriatric medicine. However, there is variability in the provision of memory clinics in the medium and smaller sized DHBs and inconsistency in the level of funded staff across DHBs.

Conclusions: Acknowledgement of the value of memory clinics within a national service framework is needed, with appropriate benchmarking of funding. This would ensure improved access, including for rural and remote areas of New Zealand.