Priory Hospital Norwich, an inpatient acute mental health service for up to 34 adults, has been rated ‘good’ by the regulators the Care Quality Commission (CQC), following a new inspection report.
“People and communities were at the centre of how care was planned and delivered at all times,” said the report, which praises both frontline staff and management at the service.
A ‘good’ rating was issued to the hospital across all five of the CQC’s assessment areas, ensuring the hospital is ‘safe’, ‘effective’, ‘caring’, ‘responsive’ and ‘well-led’. The inspection covered all three of the hospital’s wards.
The report highlighted the way in which patients are supported by caring, professional staff, after inspectors spoke to patients and relatives, and observed interactions on hospital wards.
They said: “People were always treated with kindness, empathy and compassion. They felt valued and understood that their experience of care and support was important. Their privacy and dignity were respected, and every effort was made to consider their wishes and respect their choices to achieve the best possible outcomes. This included supporting people to live as independently as possible.”
Feedback from inspectors further praised the service for its role in the community, with leadership at the hospital understanding the mental health support needs in the region.
Self-reported mental illness is higher in Norfolk and Waveney region than the national average, affecting 12% of the population, according to a Norfolk County Council report, while higher than average rates of suicide have been identified in the Norwich area, reflecting a need for specialist acute mental health services.
Of Priory Hospital Norwich, CQC inspectors said: “The health and care needs of individuals and communities were well understood, and they were actively engaged in planning care that addressed these needs. Collaborative efforts ensured that care and treatment addressed the diverse needs of communities, and people were encouraged to provide feedback, which was acted upon to drive improvements.”
Priory is the UK's largest independent provider of mental health and adult social care services, supporting 26,000 people at 280 hospitals and care homes nationwide. Across the UK, 86% of Priory services are now rated good or better by regulators, which is above the national average for equivalent services, including in the NHS.
Simon Belfield, Priory Hospital Norwich Director, said: “There is a dedicated, highly-skilled team at the hospital who work really hard every day to support our patients and provide the best possible care and treatment. I’m delighted to see the recognition of this, and I’m proud we provide such an important service to the people of Norwich and Norfolk.”
Priory's Chief Executive Officer, Rebekah Cresswell, said: "Priory’s purpose is to enable people to live their life to the fullest, and I know that this is a purpose that drives Priory Hospital Norwich in how it treats and cares for people. This report recognises the vital role this service plays in the region, and the impact the brilliant team are having on people’s lives. I am hugely proud of them.”
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About Priory and MEDIAN Group
Priory is the UK’s largest independent provider of mental health and adult social care services. Priory treats more than 70 conditions, including depression, anxiety, addictions and eating disorders, as well as children’s mental health, across its nationwide network of sites. Priory also supports autistic adults and adults with a learning disability, Prader-Willi Syndrome and brain injuries, as well as older people, within specialist residential care and supported living facilities – helping as many people as possible to live their lives.
Priory is part of the MEDIAN Group, the leading European provider of high-quality mental health and rehabilitation services. The MEDIAN Group comprises: Priory in the UK with 280 facilities and 5,000 beds caring for 28,000 people, MEDIAN in Germany with 120 facilities and 18,000 beds caring for 256,000 patients, and Hestia in Spain with 14 facilities and 2,000 beds caring for 10,000 people in Spain, with more than 30,000 employees across the group.