Priory Hospital Suttons Manor

Updated 2 January 2024

The Priory Hospital Suttons Manor is a specialist, forensic low secure service for older aged male patients, aged 50 years and above, with a primary diagnosis of a mental disorder and behaviours that challenge. The service provides treatment to patients with high risk forensic histories who are now requiring a step down from high and medium secure services or transfer from prisons whereby their risk has lessened over time due to age. All patients are detained under the Mental Health Act.

The hospital focuses on supporting patients in progressing with their personal goals to move into the community or less restrictive environments. Suttons Manor also supports individuals experiencing low level physical health care needs. Suitability of admission is determined on assessment of referral and excludes the following patient groups:

• Primary Diagnosis of Learning Disability
• Diagnosis of Advanced Dementia
• Complex physical health needs
• Primary Diagnosis of ASD
• Registered under DOLS

Care is provided over two 13-bedded wards (26 beds in total).

South Weald ward provides a specialist low secure forensic inpatient service to those aged over 50 years. The ward has 13 beds of which 11 were occupied at the time of the inspection.

Westleigh Heights ward is a low secure service providing care for adults aged over 50 years. There are 13 beds on this ward and at the time of inspection 12 were occupied. Westleigh Heights ward also aims to support adults experiencing low level physical health care needs as well as the elderly and frail alongside their mental health needs.

At the time of inspection there were 23 patients within the service.

The service has a registered manager. The location is registered to provide the following registered activities:

• Assessment or medical treatment for persons detained under the Mental Health Act 1983

• Diagnostic and screening procedures

• Treatment of disease, disorder, or injury

The service was last inspected by the CQC in 2019. We identified a breach of Regulation 10 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008, (Regulated Activities) 2014, relating to the privacy and dignity of patients, where bedroom viewing panels could be opened by other patients. We also identified a breach of Regulation 15 where the environment was poorly maintained and unclean. During this inspection, we found the provider had addressed our concerns.

What people who use the service say

We spoke with 9 patients and 5 carers. Overall, feedback from patients was positive. Patients said they felt safe, and staff were kind and supportive. Patients said the environment was clean, they felt involved in their care and were able to provide feedback about the service.

Carers spoke very positively about the care and treatment being delivered to patients at the service. Carers were able to provide feedback about the service and were kept informed of the care of their relative or friend.

Updated 2 January 2024

Our rating of this location stayed the same. We rated it as good because:

• The service provided safe care. The ward environments were safe and clean. The wards had enough nurses and doctors. Staff assessed and managed risk well. They minimised the use of restrictive practices, managed medicines safely and followed good practice with respect to safeguarding.
• Staff developed holistic, recovery-oriented care plans informed by comprehensive assessments. They provided a range of treatments suitable to the needs of the patients in line with national guidance about best practice. Staff engaged in clinical audits to evaluate the quality of care they provided.
• The ward teams included or had access to the full range of specialists required to meet the needs of patients on the wards. Managers ensured that staff received training, supervision, and appraisal. The ward staff worked well together as a multidisciplinary team and with those outside the ward who would have a role in providing aftercare.
• Staff understood and discharged their roles and responsibilities under the Mental Health Act 1983 and the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
• Staff treated patients with compassion and kindness, respected their privacy and dignity, and understood the individual needs of patients. They actively involved patients and families and carers in care decisions.
• Staff planned and managed discharge well and consulted with services that would provide aftercare. As a result, discharge was rarely delayed for other than a clinical reason.
• Leaders had the skills, knowledge, and experience to perform their roles. The hospital director, the clinical director and the ward managers worked well together to meet the needs of the patients and support their staff. Leaders were accessible, approachable and were spoken highly of by staff and patients.
• The service was well led, and the governance processes ensured that ward procedures ran smoothly.

Updated 2 January 2024

Our rating of this location stayed the same. We rated it as good because:

• The service provided safe care. The ward environments were safe and clean. The wards had enough nurses and doctors. Staff assessed and managed risk well. They minimised the use of restrictive practices, managed medicines safely and followed good practice with respect to safeguarding.
• Staff developed holistic, recovery-oriented care plans informed by comprehensive assessments. They provided a range of treatments suitable to the needs of the patients in line with national guidance about best practice. Staff engaged in clinical audits to evaluate the quality of care they provided.
• The ward teams included or had access to the full range of specialists required to meet the needs of patients on the wards. Managers ensured that staff received training, supervision, and appraisal. The ward staff worked well together as a multidisciplinary team and with those outside the ward who would have a role in providing aftercare.
• Staff understood and discharged their roles and responsibilities under the Mental Health Act 1983 and the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
• Staff treated patients with compassion and kindness, respected their privacy and dignity, and understood the individual needs of patients. They actively involved patients and families and carers in care decisions.
• Staff planned and managed discharge well and consulted with services that would provide aftercare. As a result, discharge was rarely delayed for other than a clinical reason.
• Leaders had the skills, knowledge, and experience to perform their roles. The hospital director, the clinical director and the ward managers worked well together to meet the needs of the patients and support their staff. Leaders were accessible, approachable and were spoken highly of by staff and patients.
• The service was well led, and the governance processes ensured that ward procedures ran smoothly.