We know that getting a dementia diagnosis can be tough. Waiting lists are long, private options are expensive, and too many people are left without the answers and support they need. That’s why we’re proud to work with  Age UK West Sussex, Brighton & Hove, a trusted organisation dedicated to supporting older people, to make expert dementia assessments more accessible in Sussex.

Why increased access to dementia assessments matters

At Here, we run the Brighton & Hove Memory Assessment Service (MAS), part of the NHS’s vital network of dementia diagnosis and support. We know first-hand how essential these services are and how stretched they can be. Demand is high, and while we continue to innovate within our MAS service, the reality is that the NHS operates with limited finances. This means capacity is constrained, and waiting lists for NHS memory assessments can be long. 

Right now, around 40% of people over 65 with dementia remain undiagnosed in the UK. That means thousands of people in Sussex are navigating life without the right support, missing out on treatment, guidance, and the chance to plan for the future.  An early diagnosis can make all the difference, not just for the person with dementia but for their family and support network, too. It opens the door to practical help, medical care, and a better quality of life.  

This is where alternative options, like our collaboration with Age UK, can make a real difference. By complementing NHS services, we give people more choice, ensuring that more people can get the answers and support they need, without unnecessary delays.

A partnership rooted in care 

Our collaboration combines Here’s clinical expertise in dementia assessment with Age UK’s trusted support for older people.  Age UK WSBH is an independent charity dedicated to helping people over 50 stay independent, informed, and connected. From practical advice and information to social clubs and wellbeing support, their work helps older people make the most of life.  For over a decade, Here has delivered dementia services built on compassion, trust, and person-centred care. This partnership allows us to expand that work, ensuring people feel heard, respected, and supported throughout their journey.

More accessible dementia assessments

As a first step, we have launched The Dementia Clinic, a not-for-profit, paid-for service that offers the highest standards of compassionate care while keeping costs as low as possible. We focus on people, not profit, as two not-for-profit, purpose-driven organisations.  We are committed to making dementia assessments more accessible by: 

• Keeping costs as low as possible while maintaining the highest standards of care. 
• Making assessments easier to access without unnecessary delays. 
• Providing compassionate, person-centred support tailored to each person. 

Our vision 

Our vision is simple: a dementia care system that puts people first. We want to give people control over their care, provide real alternatives to long waiting lists, and reinvest in services that reach even more people. This partnership is a significant step towards making this happen.

We know we can’t fix everything overnight. But by working with partners like Age UK, listening to the people who need these services, and challenging the barriers to access, we can make a real difference. 

If you’d like to learn more about our partnership or working with Here, drop us a line at collab@hereweare.org.uk. If you’re looking for expert dementia support, find out more about The Dementia Clinic.

We are appalled by the reported comments made by Frank Hester, CEO of TPP. Like many NHS providers, TPP are a provider of our SystmOne electronic patient record.

Dr Helen Curr our CEO and the Here board said

“The reported comments are unmistakably misogynistic, racist and unacceptable. As a social enterprise these comments are in stark contrast with the values we champion in everything we do. We believe our leaders set the standard for what is acceptable – both in what they say, and what is allowed to pass unchallenged.”

As a result we will be contacting TPP to make a formal complaint, and to request detail of the steps they will take as an organisation to ensure an inclusive, respectful environment within their organisation, and how they will make their action plans publicly available.

We urge all organisations working with TPP to consider taking similar action – to speak out and challenge views that have no place in healthcare, or within our society, and to use this opportunity to take a collective stance on what passes for acceptable in public life.