The cognitive neurology services audit 2024: a national audit of neurology-led cognitive clinics

<h3>Background</h3> Previous national audits of NHS dementia care in England and Wales have focused on community-based or acute hospital inpatient memory services.^{1 2} The Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership has commissioned the Royal College of Psychiatrists to conduct a further audit on community-based memory services (2023-24).³ However, an audit focusing on outpatient cognitive neurology services has not been completed. Our audit is timely given current and anticipated advances in dementia biomarkers, diagnostic technologies, and treatments and the need for the NHS to pool neurology and mental health resources and expertise to deliver these. <h3>Aims</h3> We will complete a UK-wide audit of cognitive neurology services to investigate referral procedures, diagnostic approach and follow up. It will take place at each centre, covering 1st of January to 31st of December 2023. In addition to assessing compliance with the NICE dementia guideline (2018)⁴ we also aim to examine: Collaboration between multidisciplinary teams. Research integration. Readiness for anticipated changes in cognitive clinic working. Information will be collected using our web-based platform⁵<b>https://www.dementiadata.com</b> <h3>Outcome</h3> We anticipate this audit will provide critical information to improve local and national memory clinic services and assess the readiness of neurology services to lead development and implementation of advances in dementia research. <h3>References</h3> Cook, Souris, Isaacs 2020. 2019 national memory service audit. National Audit of Dementia Memory Assessment Services Spotlight 2021. Memory Services Spotlight Audit 2023-24. NICE Dementia guideline NG97 June 2018. https://www.argyleit.co.uk/