About this location
Set in stunning grounds to promote and support a feeling of wellbeing, Priory Hospital Dorking, in Surrey, is an acute mental health service. We offer support for males who are experiencing an acute mental health episode, providing the necessary levels of care required. The focus of our service is to stabilise and support people on a pathway to community discharge as soon as possible, with the appropriate aftercare in place.
Services at a glance
Contact us
Priory Hospital Dorking Harrowlands Park South Terrace Dorking RH4 2RA
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Services
Our acute services offer round-the-clock assistance in times of emergencies. Our specialist inpatient acute teams are committed to providing the highest quality of care, supporting patients with a wide range of mental health conditions in safe and highly therapeutic environments.
Ward break down
- Elyn Saks – 18-bedded ward for adult males with a mental health diagnosis
Conditions treated
We are able to support people with:
- Complex mental health needs
- A personality disorder
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Bipolar disorder
- Psychosis
- Self-harm
- Substance misuse
- Schizophrenia
- Violence and aggression
- Acute phase of mental health
We can also support people who present with the following challenges alongside their primary diagnosis:
- A learning disability
- Autism
- Physical disabilities
- Sexual offending (on a case-by-case basis, in consideration of risk)
We are able to support informal patients or those detained under the Mental Health Act (MHA).
Treatment approaches
At Priory Hospital Dorking, we offer an individualised, person-centred approach to all of our patients, supporting those in an acute phase of mental health crisis.
Our assessment and treatment options are overseen by a full and diverse multidisciplinary team (MDT). We have specialist expertise in acute conditions, and we work towards discharge from day 1 of admission. We offer:
- Occupational therapy (OT)
- 1:1 therapy
- Group therapy
- Psychology
People within our service tend to stay with us on a short-term basis.
Our team
Our team consists of:
- Hospital director
- Clinical director
- Ward managers
- Responsible consultant (psychiatrist)
- Specialty doctor
- Deputy charge nurses
- Senior nurses
- Occupational therapist (OT)
- OT assistant
- Healthcare assistants
- Psychologist
- On-site physical health nurse
We also have an MDT that supports peer learning.
Therapeutic and community-based activities
We offer a range of therapeutic and community-based activities as part of a full treatment programme. We want to support people to become more confident and independent, preparing them to move through their treatment pathway towards community living.
We support activities that promote wellbeing. Our therapeutic and community-based activities include:
- Supervised gym classes
- Pool and table tennis
- Arts and crafts
- Gardening
- Walking groups
- Gardening
- Trips to local amenities
- Music
- Movie nights
- Cooking
Our facilities and environment
We believe that the environment in which treatment takes place is just as important as the treatment itself, when it comes to supporting our patients. We provide:
Our garden offers secure fencing, and a patio area with furniture. We also have specialised equipment within the hospital, such as bean bags, for people to use. Adaptations can be made, within reason, and provided they are risk assessed and appropriate on a case-by-case basis.
Our bedrooms
All of our bedrooms are single-occupancy and have an en-suite bathroom. Patients are encouraged to personalise their bedrooms while they are staying with us. We provide:
Exclusion profile
People under the age of 18.
Pathways
Priory’s network of high-quality facilities enables us to offer joined-up care pathways with our dedicated residential services. We offer programmes which integrate healthcare treatment and therapy, which are tailored according to individual needs, in an appropriate setting. Our strength is that we can provide a seamless transition for the individual as they progress between higher and lower dependency services.
People are usually admitted to Priory Hospital Dorking from a general hospital, where they have been identified as needing intensive support while they are in an acute phase of being unwell. People can also be referred to us from high dependency units (HDU) hospitals, where they can no longer be managed on a rehabilitation ward due to a change in their presentation.
Our aim is to discharge people home, where appropriate. However, we can support people to transition to further rehabilitation services at Priory Hospital Newbury, Priory Hospital Nelson and Priory Hospital Hemel Hempstead, should this be required.
People staying with us can also step down into our Priory Adult Care pathway if they need supported living or a residential placement. Evergreen Lodge and Albion House can support people with mental health needs that require ongoing support. The focus of our service is to stabilise and support people on a pathway to community discharge as soon as possible, with the appropriate aftercare in place.
People staying with us can also step down into our Priory Adult Care pathway if they need supported living or a residential placement. Evergreen Lodge and Albion House can support people with mental health needs that require ongoing support. The focus of our service is to stabilise and support people on a pathway to community discharge as soon as possible, with the appropriate aftercare in place.
A message from our site leader
Our aim is to provide the highest quality of care for people, to promote recovery and enable them to return to the community and live their life
Priory Hospital Dorking, site leader
Comments from our patients and their family and friends
I have met a lot of good people here, and I believe everyone can take away something good from their experience. Also, this place helps you realise that everyone is going through things, so you are not alone
This place opened me to new possibilities, especially in helping me open up to people about what I am going through, so that I can get the help I need
Information for family and friends
How do home visits work?
We can support people staying with us to attend home visits, if this is part of a transitional need. However, most people would return home or transition into an alternative support pathway from our service, once they are well enough.
What is your visitation policy?
We welcome visitors but request that this is by appointment only, so we can ensure that we can support all needs during this time.
Will I be involved and kept up to date with my loved one’s care and wellbeing?
Yes, we make every effort to ensure that loved ones are informed and involved with their care, provided we have consent from the person staying with us, and it is appropriate to do so. We aim to support family in understanding the needs of their loved ones.
Will my loved one be able to have a phone or call me?
Yes, people staying with us can have mobile phones and we can facilitate access to a phone if they require this to contact loved ones.
What type of things are families expected to provide, and what is provided by the home?
Bedrooms are furnished and bedding is provided. We would expect people staying with us to arrive with clothing, toiletries and personal items that they would usually require. However, we can provide essentials in the interim if needed. We do ask that people leave bulky, expensive items at home and adhere to our banned and restricted items policy.
What are the bedrooms like?
All of our bedrooms are safely furnished, with a bright and modern feel. They are all single person, en-suite rooms.
Are external doors kept locked?
Yes, doors are locked for the safety of all those staying with us at various stages of recovery. However, staff are on-hand to support access, where appropriate. Every person staying with us will be individually assessed for any risks to see what security is needed.
What do service users eat and how do meal times work?
We provide three meals a day and people staying with us can make or request snacks. We ensure that all dietary needs and preferences are catered for and welcome feedback on the menu. We also have a regular event where people can choose a specific theme or pick the menu.
How does laundry work?
We have facilities on-site for people staying with us to attend to their own laundry. However, help is on-hand should it be needed. Bedding is washed by the hospital.
Is there anything they can’t bring or have?
There is a list of banned and restricted items, to ensure the safety of everyone staying with us. Sometimes, we may have to restrict particular items for an individual, in line with their treatment needs.
Are pets allowed?
Unfortunately, we cannot allow pets to stay at the hospital with patients.
How do activities work?
We have a fluid activity timetable that is adjusted to meet the needs of the people staying with us. Everyone has their own planner of group and therapy-led activities, which they can input to.
Do service users and families have an input into the service user’s care plans?
We encourage and support families to be involved and have input into their loved one’s care plans and reviews, provided it is appropriate and consent is in place.
What are the car parking facilities?
There is free car parking on-site.
What is the smoking policy? Can service users buy cigarettes?
Priory Hospital Dorking is a non-smoking site. However, some people may choose to vape while they are in the grounds or smoke when on leave. There is an area just off the hospital main grounds, where patients can smoke. Full support is given to those that wish to participate in smoking cessation.
How is treatment accessed and funded?
We don’t take referrals directly from individuals and families. Instead, the first step will be for you to reach out to the person’s GP so that they can be referred and funded through the correct NHS channel. Depending on the type of support needed, this could include local authority funding, NHS funding, joint funding between the local authority and NHS, or direct payments. Please note, referrals for NHS or local authority funded services must come from a referring organisation.
How to make a referral
Our customer service centre provides 24/7 support for NHS mental health enquiries and referrals. Our customer referral co-ordinators can support you from your first call right through to the enquiry conclusion, providing updates throughout the process. We offer 24/7 crisis referrals, fast access to bed availability and placements, and a single access point for end-to-end enquiry management.