- Independent mental health service
The Priory Hospital North London
Assessment report published 8 June 2026
Contents
Ratings - Acute wards for adults of working age and psychiatric intensive care units
Our view of the service
At the previous inspection in March 2023, the hospital was rated requires improvement overall, with ratings of good in the caring, effective and responsive key questions. We required the provider to make improvements in medicines management, physical health observations following the administration of rapid tranquillisation, and the formal involvement of patients and carers in the hospital’s governance processes. Since that inspection, the hospital has closed its Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) ward.
At this assessment, we found improvements in all of these areas. Our rating of the service has improved, and we have rated the service as good. The service is no longer in breach of regulations.
The ward environments were clean and well maintained, and there were enough nurses and doctors to meet patients’ needs. Staff assessed and managed risk effectively. They minimised the use of restrictive practices, managed medicines safely and followed good safeguarding practice.
Staff developed holistic, recovery‑oriented care plans based on comprehensive assessments. They provided a range of treatments that met patients’ needs and were in line with national guidance and best practice. Staff participated in clinical audit to monitor and improve the quality of care.
The multidisciplinary team included, or had access to, the range of specialists required to meet patients’ needs. Managers ensured staff received appropriate training, supervision and appraisal. Staff worked well together as a multidisciplinary team and collaborated effectively with external services involved in patients’ aftercare.
Staff treated patients with compassion and kindness, respected their privacy and dignity, and demonstrated an understanding of individual needs. Staff actively involved patients and their families or carers in decisions about care and treatment.
Staff told us they felt respected, supported and valued. They said they could raise concerns without fear and that these were taken seriously. Staff described feeling positive and proud to work for the provider and said the leadership team prioritised staff wellbeing and promoted a culture of good practice, high‑quality care and safe treatment.
Governance processes operated effectively, and performance and risk were well managed.
People's experience of this service
We spoke with 6 patients and 3 carers during this inspection.
The majority of patient feedback was positive. Patients told us they felt safe. Patients told us the wards were well staffed and that staff were kind and helpful. They reported feeling involved in their care and treatment and said they met regularly with their doctor and the multidisciplinary team. Patients on Lower Court Ward described a range of activities available to them, including yoga sessions, therapy sessions and music sessions. However, patients on Oak Ward told us there were fewer activities available and felt that more could be offered. All patients we spoke with said they felt safe on the ward.
During the inspection, we observed positive interactions between staff and patients. Staff were kind and respectful in their approach, and senior staff described a culture of compassion within the team.
Mental Health Act
The hospital admitted patients detained under the Mental Health Act 1983. On the first day of our inspection, around a quarter of the total patients were detained and the rest were admitted on an informal basis.
Staff maintained up‑to‑date training on the Mental Health Act and were able to apply its principles effectively in their practice. Training on the Mental Health Act was mandatory for staff, and the compliance rate was 79%.
Staff ensured that all patients were informed of their rights under the Mental Health Act, with evidence of this documented in the patients’ records. Staff had access to support and advice on implementing the Mental Health Act and its Code of Practice. The provider had a regional Mental Health Act team that staff could speak with if needed.
Staff had access to policies, procedures, administrative support and legal advice relating to the implementation of the Mental Health Act and its Code of Practice.
Patients had easy access to information about independent mental health advocacy, and staff supported them to contact advocacy services when needed.
Staff facilitated Section 17 leave (permission to leave the hospital) appropriately and only when authorised by the responsible clinician. Leave arrangements were routinely discussed and confirmed during the daily handover meeting. We observed this process on site and found it to be well‑structured and consistently applied.
Detention papers and associated records were well maintained, accurately stored, and easily accessible to ward staff who needed to review them.
Informal patients were aware of their right to leave the ward freely, and information about the rights of informal patients was clearly displayed on the wards.
Staff carried out regular audits to ensure the Mental Health Act was being applied correctly, and there was evidence that learning from these audits was used to improve practice.
Mental Capacity Act
Training on the Mental Capacity Act was mandatory for staff and 86.7% of staff had completed this.
Staff completed capacity assessments for each patient on admission to determine their ability to consent to admission and treatment. Staff supported patients to make informed decisions about their care and demonstrated a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and its five statutory principles. They followed the provider’s policy for assessing and recording capacity. Records showed that patients received clear explanations and were given sufficient time to consider information before consenting to treatment.
There was a clear policy on the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, which staff knew how to access.
Staff took all practical steps to support patients to make their own decisions and promoted decision‑making wherever possible.