Priory Hospital Solihull

Updated 15 April 2026

We assessed Priory hospital Solihull in January and February 2026.

Priory hospital Solihull was registered to provide the regulated activities:

• Assessment or medical treatment for person’s detained under the Mental Health Act 1983
• Diagnostic and screening procedures
• Treatment of disease, disorder or injury.

The hospital had a Registered Manager in place.

The hospital is located in Meriden, Warwickshire. It can accommodate up to 31 males and provides a rehabilitation and recovery service over 3 wards:

• Millison ward can accommodate up to 11 males and offers Level 1 mental health rehabilitation inpatient services (previously known as community rehabilitation units).
• Arley and Elkin wards can both accommodate up to 10 males each and offers a Level 2 mental health rehabilitation inpatient service (previously known as high dependency services).

At this assessment we assessed the service group: long stay or rehabilitation mental health wards for working age adults. We assessed all 33 quality statements across the 5 key questions.

Our overall rating has improved from good to outstanding.

Updated 19 December 2025

We assessed Priory hospital Solihull in January and February 2026.

Priory hospital Solihull was registered to provide the regulated activities: Assessment or medical treatment for person’s detained under the Mental Health Act 1983; Diagnostic and screening procedures and Treatment of disease, disorder or injury. The hospital had a Registered Manager in place.

The hospital is located in Meriden, Warwickshire. It can accommodate up to 31 males and provides a rehabilitation and recovery service over 3 wards:

• Millison ward can accommodate up to 11 males and offers Level 1 mental health rehabilitation inpatient services (previously known as community rehabilitation units).
• Arley and Elkin wards can both accommodate up to 10 males each and offers a Level 2 mental health rehabilitation inpatient service (previously known as high dependency services).

At our last inspection there were no identified breaches under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. We rated the hospital as good.

During this assessment there were no identified breaches. Our overall rating has improved from good to outstanding.

The service consistently provided high‑quality, safe and effective care in a well‑maintained and therapeutic environment. Staff assessed and managed risks effectively, involving people in decisions about their care and supporting their rights under the Mental Capacity Act. The use of restrictive interventions was low, with a strong focus on proactive and person‑centred approaches. Staffing levels were stable, training compliance was good and systems for managing infection prevention and medicines were effective, with staff responding promptly to any issues identified.

Care was personalised, holistic and recovery focused. People received thorough assessments and access to a wide range of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommended psychological therapies, supported by strong multidisciplinary and partnership working. Staff consistently monitored outcomes to inform care and supported people’s physical health, wellbeing and independence. The service was highly caring and responsive, with people, families and professionals giving consistently positive feedback about staff kindness, respect and involvement. Leadership was visible and compassionate, promoting an open and inclusive culture where staff felt valued and confident to speak up, ensuring the service continued to deliver outstanding, person‑centred care.

Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act Compliance Summary

Staff understood their roles and responsibilities under the Mental Health Act 1983 and the Mental Health Act Code of Practice and discharged these well. The service had a Mental Health Act administrator who ensured all patients were detained legally. They maintained oversight of all detention documentation to ensure staff adhered to the Mental Health Act Code of Practice. During office hours, the Mental Health Act administrator scrutinised all relevant documentation for new patients detained under the Act. Out of hours, this responsibility was passed to the nurse in charge.

Staff explained to each patient their rights under the Mental Health Act in a way that they could understand, repeated as necessary and recorded it clearly in the patient’s notes each time. Information about patients’ rights under the Mental Health Act were displayed in ward areas on notice boards. Staff made sure patients could take section 17 leave (permission to leave the hospital) when this had been agreed with the Responsible Clinician.

Patients had access to independent mental health advocacy. Advocates visited the hospital regularly and attended multi-disciplinary team (MDT) meetings upon request.

For patients detained under the Mental Health Act, responsible clinicians had completed appropriate statutory certificates authorising treatment. Second opinion appointed doctors (SOAD’s) authorised treatment when patients lacked capacity to consent. The responsible clinicians explained this process to patients.

The service had relevant policies and procedures in place relating to the Mental Health Act (1983), with easy access to the Code of Practice. Staff received and kept up to date with training in the Mental Health Act, which was mandatory for all care staff. At the time of our assessment, staff compliance was 95%.