Clinical Neuropsychology

Neuropsychologists are psychologists who specialise in understanding the link between the brain and behaviour. 

Neuropsychological assessments are a way of describing and measuring the effects that changes in the brain can have on thinking skills, behaviour, and emotion.

Changes in thinking skills and behaviour may be caused by aging, brain damage or disease, and sometimes by stress or low mood.  

Neuropsychologists also commonly provide rehabilitation and treatment to help people manage and work around any difficulties they might have. 

Your appointment will be with one or more members of the neuropsychology team. Usually, you will discuss your difficulties with the neuropsychologist, who will take notes of what you say. These notes will become part of your healthcare record. You will be able to ask questions. 

You can have someone with you, such as a friend or family member, if that is helpful, for example for support or because they can offer helpful information about your difficulties. This discussion will happen either over the phone, video-call, or face to face.

When you attend the appointment(s):

• You will be asked to discuss your difficulties with a neuropsychologist.
• You will be asked to do some tests of your thinking skills, like memory.
• You may be asked to complete some questionnaires about your emotions, for example stress and worry, or feelings of unhappiness. 

If appropriate, you will have an assessment of your thinking skills, such as your memory ability, and of how you are feeling emotionally. This will be done either face to face or by video-call, through questionnaires and cognitive tests. The assessment requires concentration and effort and some people may feel tired afterwards.

Details of your appointment will be in your letter.

Once you have completed the assessment the neuropsychologist will write a report of the findings and may contact you to discuss the results and possible ways forward. The report will be shared with your referring doctor and other members of your healthcare team as appropriate.  

A copy may be sent to you routinely, or if not, is available upon request. 

A neuropsychology report typically includes an explanation of the tasks given and the scores that were achieved. It may include an opinion about the likely cause of any difficulties observed as well as some recommendations for how to help with any problems identified. 

Sometimes the report might be difficult to understand or you might have further questions, in which case you should contact us so that we can assist you. 

Depending on the service pathway, and what was agreed with the neuropsychologist, you may have further appointments with members of the neuropsychology team to help you with your cognitive and/or emotional difficulties.

After you have attended: 

• A report will be written by the neuropsychologist which will go to the referrer or other appropriate members of your healthcare team.
• In some services the report is also sent to you.
• Depending on the service pathway, you may also be invited to attend further appointments for rehabilitation or therapy.
• If you have any questions about the report or what happens next please contact us. 

On the day:

• Please have your glasses and hearing aids with you if you need them.
• Please take any medication as you normally would.
• You may find it helpful to write down any questions ahead of the appointment.

You will be asked by the neuropsychologist if you agree (consent) to the assessment and, if appropriate, any relevant treatment. The neuropsychologist will explain the assessment and/or treatment to you and you can ask any questions that you may have.  

You are free to decide whether or not you want to have the assessment or treatment offered. 

By consenting you agree that:

• The neuropsychologist can take notes of what is said and done during your work with them.  
• These notes will form part of your healthcare record.
• You agree to undertake the tasks of the assessment and/or treatment as appropriate.
• You agree a report summarising appropriate details of your discussion with the neuropsychologist, the results of your assessment, and any treatment can be shared with your GP and treating healthcare team as required. 

We will process personal data to enable us to provide neuropsychological services to you. This information may include personal details, family details, lifestyle and social circumstances, employment and education details, and physical and mental health details. 

In order to carry out our work we need to process personal information about our patients, their relatives/guardians and sometimes other professionals. 

We sometimes need to share the personal information we process with the individual, and also with other organisations. Where this is necessary we are required to comply with all aspects of relevant law. 

Information discussed and shared with the neuropsychologist or staff under their supervision, along with the results of any assessment or treatment undertaken and reports or letters written, will remain confidential within your healthcare record. 

We will share this information with members of your healthcare team as part of your care. We will not share this information with people outside of your healthcare team without your permission. 

There are, however, circumstances in which we are legally required to breach confidentiality. Under these circumstances we will make all reasonable efforts to inform you of the need to share information. We will breach confidentiality if we believe failure to do so will result in harm to you or others. Specifically, we will breach confidentiality if we believe a child is at serious risk of harm, we believe there is serious risk of harm to you or someone else, or if we believe you have not disclosed relevant information that you are required by law to disclose, such as a condition that will likely affect your ability to safely work or drive.

Supervision of staff

Staff within the Department of Neuropsychology receive supervision of their work from a senior clinician to maintain and improve their skills. Within this they may discuss details of their treatment with you. The supervisor is bound by the same rules of confidentiality as outlined above.

Students and trainees

North Bristol NHS Trust is a teaching trust and we often have students and trainees working within the Department of Neuropsychology. If you do not wish for them to be present during your assessment or treatment please let us know. Your decision will not affect the treatment you receive. 

You may not wish to raise a complaint, but would like us to be aware of an issue and try and make it right. If you need advice or have a concern at North Bristol NHS Trust the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) can be contacted at:

Email: pals@nbt.nhs.uk
Phone: 0117 414 4569

If you wish to make a formal complaint you can:

Complete our online form: www.nbt.nhs.uk/patients-carers/feedback/advice-complaints/raise-a-conce…

Email: complaint@nbt.nhs.uk

Phone: 0117 414 4567

Write to: 

Complaints Team,
Beaufort House,
Southmead Hospital
Bristol
BS10 5NB