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Having symptoms of dementia, and waiting for a diagnosis, can be a very anxious time. The pressure on secondary care-based memory services is increasing. Timely diagnosis is essential for people affected by dementia to access to treatment, support, and care planning. Current diagnostic pathways are often slow and burdensome, with waiting times for memory clinics reaching up to two years.
Primary care offers a potential route to earlier diagnosis, but time and resources are constrained. This study explores whether a structured, scalable approach—using trained Health Care Assistants (HCAs) to administer cognitive test bundles—can support GPs in making timely and accurate diagnoses for patients aged 75 and over.