Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 30, 2026

Using Visual and Narrative Methods to Achieve Fair Process in Clinical Care
Published on: February 16, 2011
Patients' and carers' experiences of UK memory services
Emma Hailey1, Sophie Hodge1, Alistair Burns2
1Royal College of Psychiatrists, London, UK.
Objective:
The objective of this study is to test the validity of an accreditation programme for memory services in the UK by investigating whether different levels of accreditation status (excellent compared with accredited) are reflected in patients' and carers' reported satisfaction.
Method:
A comparison of survey data from patient and carer feedback questionnaires collected from services as part of the accreditation process.
Results:
Five hundred and eighty-three patient questionnaires and 663 carer questionnaires were returned from 41 services. Patients and carers who attended memory services which were later 'accredited as excellent', were more likely than those who had visited 'accredited' services to have: been given written information about a variety of topics; been asked for feedback about using the memory service; and had found it easier to get to their appointments. Carers attending services accredited as excellent were more likely to have been offered an assessment of their needs.
Conclusion:
Patients and carers had very good experiences of memory services overall whether they had standard or excellent accreditation. However, 'excellent' services were consistently better on a number of factors. This provides further support that the accreditation process is an important indicator of the quality of memory services.
Related Concept Videos
Documentation in Long-Term and Home Healthcare Setting
Long-Term Care Facilities
Explicit Memories
Episodic memory contains information about personally experienced events and is reported as a story. An example of episodic memory is recalling a birthday celebration. This type of memory includes the what, where, and when of an event, as...
False Memories
One primary source of false memories is misattribution, where individuals incorrectly associate external information...
Patient-centered Care
Flashbulb Memory
Understanding Memory

