- Independent mental health service
The Priory Hospital Preston
Assessment report published 24 September 2026
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
Dates of assessment: 07-09 April 2026 with an additional evening visit on 14 April 2026.
The Priory Hospital Preston is a 50 bedded mental health hospital specialising in the management and treatment of acute mental ill health and eating disorders.
The service is regulated for the activities of Assessment or medical treatment for persons detained under the Mental Health Act 1983, and Treatment of disease, disorder or injury. The service has a registered manager and a controlled drugs responsible officer.
We visited the following wards as part of the assessment:
- Rosemary ward
- Elswick ward
- Cottam ward
- Bartle ward
At this assessment, we assessed 2 assessment service groups (ASG); Acute wards for adults of working age and psychiatric intensive care units and Specialist Eating Disorder Services. We assessed all quality statements across all key questions for both ASGs.
The location had last been inspected in June 2022 where it was rated good overall and in all key questions. No breaches of regulation were identified at the 2022 inspection.
We have assessed the service against ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ guidance to make judgements about whether the provider guaranteed people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted.
We rated the location as Requires Improvement.
In the acute wards for adults of working age and psychiatric intensive care units, we found 3 breaches of regulations in relation to: making reasonable adjustments for patients with autistic spectrum disorder and a learning disability, management of risk assessments and care plans, management of health conditions, monitoring and maintenance of the environment and oversight of risks.
We found no breaches of regulation in the Specialist Eating Disorder Service.
We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this assessment.