The Priory Hospital Chelmsford

I was promised outpatient care a £150 for 50 mins. I was okay with price but the ward manager never got back to me to arrange something. I chased him 3 times but got nothing other than let down and a wall of silence. DO NOT GO HERE FOR TREATMENT.

Na

I posted a review following my husband having a stroke whilst on alcohol detox. The hospital delayed reacting and after several hours put him in a taxi to a and e. This delay caused significant brain damage and my husband lived for only two more years. He had to be supported with every aspect of his life. If the staff had attended to him with proper detox methods and reacted and called an ambulance the outcome would have been very different. I lost my husband that day as the damage to his brain took him from me. I bitterly regret leaving my husband in their care. I have never had a satisfactory response regarding their actions. They are all about profit. It might look like a nice health spa from the outside, but the staff are severely lacking in experience, skill and qualifications. No on site doctors or medical staff. No one answering phones. It was a shambles.

I know cov19 virus is happening but therapist , changes like the weather. Which is upsetting when can’t solve face to face.

Staff - most staff were fairly helpful, unfortunately there is always "that one". Apart from that they were helpful if not all that organised or knowledgeable. Food - very fancy food, perhaps a little too fancy. Personally I'm used to more simple meals but I would imagine most people enjoying the variety and choice. Activities - a major drawback as there was little evidence of organised activities to distract/help patients. There was a schedule but it seemed rather scattergun approach as to whether it actually happened or not. Overall - it felt like more of a waiting room than an acute setting. The majority of staff were fine, but it felt as if there was little direction and initiative in involving patients.

The eating disorder ward is an utter disgrace. The staff from the ward manager, staff nurses and HCA’s were rude and uncaring and the nicest staff were the agency guys at night. There is absolutely no therapy services patients spend 21 hours alone in there rooms other times spent eating or queuing ages for meds which 9/10 times were wrong. It’s just basically a feeding farm and coming from another unit which had daily intense treatment programs to this where they expect the mind to heal itself is an utter joke. I can say the catering staff and house keepers were always polite and friendly and I can’t give anything but credit but staff on Springfield ward certainly don’t have the three ‘C’ - care, commitment and compassion. I can honestly say that thankfully I spent 10 months of my recovery at another Priory eating disorder unit and only had to spend 6 weeks here before thankfully my home team could see all my progress untangling and agreed to care for me back in the community!

Staff can change like the weather, sometimes slow to understand what trying to tell them on phone.

This hospital should NOT be treating patients with schizophrenia. Medication is not the only answer - my advice - immediately get referral to specialist unit such as the Maudsley Hosptal. You may have to fight for this but my son's life might have been very different if we had gone to specialists in the first stages.

My husband had a major stroke whilst at this hospital. The staff did not call an ambulance but instead phoned around and talked to the consultant. Eventually my husband was taken in a taxi to hospital. As a consequence he has brain damage and many other health problems. The priory should not take on the responsibility to do detox treatment as they do not have medically competent staff. To not spot and react to the signs of a stroke is appalling. My husband would have been better off at home being detoxed as I would have spotted the signs of stroke and called an ambulance. If my husband had been thrombolised earlier there is a good chance he would have made a full recovery.

The Priory was absolutely amazing. Inside it is like a big mansion with beautiful clean rooms and delicious food brought right to your room the lamb shank fell off the bone and melted in your mouth and the mint gravy went with it beautifully. There was also poached salmon which was like nothing I had ever tasted before, it was out of this world the batter melted in your mouth and the salmon was so tender and to top it off there was a beautiful pesto sauce at the bottom of it. It was spectacular. The grounds are huge and the clean air fills your lungs as you look up in wonder at the beautiful trees there are also four awesome sheds which I personally found really cool. Your rooms are cleaned out every day and the nurses will patiently listen to you for hours on end. The atmosphere is happy and everyone leaves with an inspiring story to tell about how they overcame their mental illness in the priory. They teach you excellent techniques and models to help you get better. The therapists are skillfully draw out your bad experiences and make you feel much better about everything in your life. They also make you feel understood and heard. The guided meditations are also very calming. The priory also uses group therapy as well as individual sessions and medication to help you go home happy and fulfilled. You also see a psychiatrist and there is lots of things to do to take your mind of your troubles. The art dream workshop is also relaxing if you prefer to express yourself through art. So come to the priory and start your journey to superb mental health.