Brain Health Clinic
Information for patients and companions about what to expect before and during your appointment at Dorset HealthCare's Brain Health Clinic, as well as directions and contact information.
Everyone who attends the clinic has a chance to take part in research, and this page gives you more detail about how that works.
Why have I been invited to attend the Brain Health Clinic?
You will be invited to an appointment at the Brain Health Clinic if you have been referred by the Dorset HealthCare Memory Assessment Service (MAS) and you may benefit from additional cognitive assessments on a yearly basis.
We may share the results of these assessments with your GP to help decide if another referral to the Memory Assessment Service is needed in the future. It will also give you a chance to take part in future research to help improve care.
What happens before my Brain Health Clinic appointment?
One of our Dorset HealthCare Research & Development team will contact you to confirm the referral and why we would like you to come to the clinic. They'll then be back in touch to arrange an appointment.
Before your appointment, you'll get a letter from us with information about your visit, a leaflet about the cognitive assessments and any research at the Brain Health Clinic. We'll also ask you to bring a relative or person who knows you well with you to your appointment.
Where is the Dorset Brain Health Clinic held?
Dorset HealthCare runs the clinic out of the AECC University College Chiropractic Clinic building in Parkwood Road, Bournemouth.
Free patient parking is available in car park 2, which is first come, first served. There is also free on-street parking.
How do I get to the Dorset Brain Health Clinic?
By car from the West (Poole)
- Follow signs to Bournemouth Centre (A347) via Lansdowne Road (B3064).
- Follow signs A35 Christchurch & Boscombe.
- Pass completely around the Sovereign Centre.
- 500m turn right into Parkwood Road.
- The University College is 250m ahead.
- For the Chiropractic Clinic building, take the entrance to Car Park 2 on your right (signposted on the wall at the entrance).
By car from Ringwood
- Follow signs to Bournemouth (A338 Wessex Way), pass over the Cooper Dean Roundabout.
- Take slip road (left) marked Boscombe.
- Go right at the mini roundabout.
- Turn left at the traffic lights into Ashley Road.
- Bear left off the roundabout (Christchurch Road).
- 500m turn right into Parkwood Road.
- The University College is 250m ahead.
- For the Chiropractic Clinic building, take the entrance to Car Park 2 on your right (signposted on the wall at the entrance)
By train
If you arrive at Pokesdown Station, the clinic is just a five-minute walk away. Turn right out of the station, cross the road, and walk along Christchurch Road, taking a left onto Parkwood Road, and the campus is on the right.
If you arrive at Bournemouth Station, it's about a 10-minute taxi journey to the University College campus and our Brain Health Clinic within the Chiropractic Clinic building.
By bus
Morebus has routes across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and beyond. The nearest bus stop to the Brain Health Clinic is 'Park wood Road' on Christchurch Road. Find your bus route on the morebus website.
By bike
There are bike racks and shelters on site, along with pumps and bike repair stations. You can also hire a Beryl Bike, a bike share scheme covering Bournemouth and Poole. The green bikes are available to hire on the street using the Beryl app. Marked Beryl Bike parking bays can be found across town. The closest Beryl bay to the Brain Health Clinic is on Parkwood Road, at the junction with Darracott Road.
What will happen at my Dorset Brain Health Clinic appointment?
Your appointment will last up to 2.5 hours. Please report to reception when you arrive and a member of the Dorset HealthCare research team will come and welcome you. They will explain what will happen during the appointment and answer your questions.
During the appointment we'll ask you to complete a short set of assessments to help understand your memory and thinking skills.
You and the person accompanying you will also have the choice of whether to take part in additional Dorset HealthCare research. If you decide not to take part, your medical care will not be affected. If you decide to take part, you can change your mind at any time.
What happens after the appointment?
We'll summarise the results from the clinical assessments and send them to your GP and Dorset HealthCare Memory Assessment Service. We'll invite you to additional education sessions when they are available, plus a follow-up appointment for repeat memory tests in a year.
What will happen to my information?
Your test results will be stored securely in the Brain Health Clinic Research computer database. These results will not include your name or any other information that could identify you. Researchers can apply to access this information for scientific purposes.
We will also separately, and securely, store your name, contact details and NHS number so we can access your medical records and contact you about future studies, if you agree to this.
Hearing about future studies
You can also choose to hear about opportunities to take part in future research studies. Of course, there is no obligation to take part.
Alternatively, you may prefer to nominate a friend or relative to be contacted about future research on your behalf. Your nominated friend or relative must agree to this and sign a separate consent form.
Information for patient companions
What does my companion need to do at the Brain Health Clinic?
We'll expect your companion to know about your medical history to help us confirm suitability for the MRI scan on the day.
As part of the clinical assessment, we'll ask your companion to complete an Informant Interview with a member of Brain Health Clinic staff, including questions about changes in your thinking skills, behaviour, and general function.
Participation in research
We'll also ffer your companion the chance to take part in research. They can choose to complete research questionnaires about any cognitive and behavioural changes they've seen in you, and about their own experience of being close to someone experiencing memory problems. They can also choose to consent to be contacted about research in future. If you lack capacity to consent to research, we may also ask your companion to act as a Consultee to agree to take part in research on your behalf.
Contact the Dorset HealthCare Brain Health Clinic Research & Development team
By phone
01202 443024 (Monday – Friday 8am-4pm)
An answer phone is available outside these hours and we'll respond to you the next working day.
By post
Room 3.46, 11 Shelley Road, Boscombe, Bournemouth, BH1 4JQ
Contact the Dorset HealthCare Patient Advice and Liaison team
By phone
Freephone 0800 587 4997. When the office is unattended a confidential answerphone service is provided. If an interpreter is needed, one will be arranged for you.
By email
By post
Patient Advice and Liaison Service, Dorset HealthCare, Sentinel House, 4-6 Nuffield Industrial Estate, Poole, BH17 0RB