The Priory Hospital North London

The Priory Hospital North London 2021-06-03 Person 1 5 0

This is the most dis-organised place I have ever been. It's the Fawlty Towers of hospitals. 75% of the staff manning the adult in-patient ward are just rude and unprofessional. The majority of in-patients during my stay here will agree that (i) they ignore in-patients when they are too busy chit-chatting or filling in forms, when the patient is just standing there, waiting to get someone's attention (ii) the staff take forever to "buzz" in-patients through the maze of doors - someone earlier this week said they waited over 5 minutes to be buzzed into the ward (iii) there is never anyone around to hand out medication on the times given to the in-patients, then we get chased down and told off for not turning up for meds on time (iv) we are treated by these people like they just see right through us (v) we get told off for not turning up to consultant / therapist appointments although we are not told we have them in the first place, and (vi) we only get one 1-2-1 therapist session per week... what?! eh?! To The Priory - can you immediately sort out these problematic and nightmare members of staff as they are letting down the whole hospital. Instead of feeling like we are in a place where we can find sanctuary, these people make us angry and are literally sending us days back into our treatment. Get rid of them. You know who they are!!!! My memories of my stay here will unfortunately, be focused on the handful of terrible, awful, rude, unprofessional staff who have stained not just my stay here, but the many other inpatients who suffer in silence. Please also sort out the dis-organisation. It's like being in an airport in the middle of South America which has one plane a week flying in / out of it. When the therapists turn up or a therapy session is not cancelled (which frequently occurred during my stay), the sessions can be quite effective. The consultants are great, as are the therapists and some of the nurses. One thing which makes no sense, is why do the in-patients have to wait until the staff have eaten before we can have our lunch or dinner??? Often, the "good stuff" has already gone by the time it's our turn and we're starving!

The Priory Hospital North London 2018-09-21 Person 3 5 0

The staff on both CAMHS wards are so kind and lovely, I couldn't have recovered without them! Unfortunately, a lot of them are leaving, largely because senior management can be disgusting towards them - they are so overworked and under appreciated. The food was ok but there were multiple incidents of things such as plastic or insects being found in it which was disgusting! Also, the ward often smelt and the furniture is old. Really, it's the people that made the hospital so great and I would recommend it because it genuinely helped me so much.

The Priory Hospital North London 2018-03-16 Person 1 5 0

Rarely saw consultant, very little therapy offered over the Christmas period and one of the patients committed suicide.Do not waste your money. Very poor and too much medication given.

The Priory Hospital North London 2017-09-30 Person 4 5 0

I was a patient at the priory for just over 5 months on the adolescent oak ward. I can honestly say the staff were a huge part of my recovery, they were absolutely fantastic. They all had my best interest at heart. I was discharged 5 months ago and I still send them post cards to let them know how I'm doing. I thank them dearly for everything. The food at the priory was lovely. The cleaners were so friendly and polite. The doctors and consultants were very helpful. Over all I do think this is a very good hospital.

The Priory Hospital North London 2017-09-25 Person 4 5 0

I am very grateful to this caring institution for helping me through a depressive episode. I was an inpatient for 3 months. The staff were warm and friendly, the food is excellent (particularly the puddings) and the therapists make you feel valued as an individual. My consultant and the ward doctors were always professional and thoughtful. The rooms were quite clean and the well kept grounds were a really lovely place to be. Moreover, the companionship amongst patients really helped me through a tricky time. This was particularly felt on the daily morning walks through the neighbouring park and around the lake. The administrative aspects of the hospital could occasionally be slow or muddled but it seemed to be improving by the end of my stay with changes in the senior management. Overall, highly recommended!

The Priory Hospital North London 2017-04-12 Person 1 5 0

I was on the Addiction treatment program for 28 days, I was told I was not going to get better unless I changed my attitude, constantly harassing you for rule breaking.( keep in mind, you only know you have broken rules until you have committed them) I felt bullied and degraded everyday by them. I felt I could never speak my mind, if I do, you get put on a ban, more like a nursary than a hospital, only good side was I came out with lots of friends, who seemed to be much better with ongoing support. It was a nightmare, I have never had a drink since, but I think that was more to do with the fear of going back rather than the program.

The Priory Hospital North London 2017-01-03 Person 4 5 0

I checked into the priory north London in October 2016. I was initially nervous having read some poor reviews of the wider Priory group. However after visiting the hospital ahead of admission I decided it was somewhere that I could recover and get well. The grounds and nearby park were beautiful, and the walks I took were crucial for me and resulted in some personal break throughs. For me the place is more of a school than a hospital. Yes you have nursing care, and medicine if needed, but fundamentally it is a place where through combined therapies you are helped to re-educate your mind and to approach life's problems differently. It isn't a health spa, as I suspect some patients mistakenly crave, but my room was comfortable (in the style of a moderately good hotel room), and was cleaned daily. Was everything perfect? No, there were times when staff shortages were apparent on whilst the vast majority of staff are caring and charming people, there was the odd person who I need to remind that I was a paying guest! Nevertheless you will get that anywhere you go. Consultants are among the best in the world, and the diverse often fascinating fellow patients make for profoundly beneficial group sessions, which gave me strength beyond measure. Manage your expectations, don't expect perfection and this is a sound and beautiful setting in which to get well. Food was nutritious, there was a choice of two or three dishes with each meal plus an amply stocked buffet bar. There were times when it felt like lunch dishes were reappearing on the dinner menu but on the whole I was well fed and impressed by the catering. I owe this place my life....as well as a sizeable chunk of cash! I recommend whole heartedly

The Priory Hospital North London 2016-11-19 Person 1 5 0

Absolute scam. They treat you like.a child there and use brain washing techniques. They make you chant religious chants every morning and use degrading means of pshycology. This place actually made me feel worse. They said if I dont follow their 12 step program i will never be cured however, through my own self value, which they strongly dissagree on, i have overcome my issies for over 5 years now. It is meant to be a private center yet it took half a day to see a doctor, rooms were left uncleaned or stocked, and the staff belittle you. I found better support on the NHS. It felt that noone at The Priory really took the time to listen. If you are shy they make a spectacle of you and mentally force you to expose your darkest moments to a group of strangers. Once you are made venerable from this, they beat you down day by day so you become dependent on their treatment. It is a cop out. If you follow their steps and admit you are worthless with no control, it is just opening the door to failing again and again. The Priory will never cure you as in their own words, addiction is uncurable. Yet i and many many more people have managed to beat it through self motivation and self worth. The whole message and logic this center is built on is flawd.

The Priory Hospital North London 2016-09-13 Person 1 5 0

Dismal and uninviting first impression. Very poor standard of accomodation for the high fees charged. Food recycled and left overs served in the cafe environment. Personal food stolen from a generally filthy kitchen. Washing machines smelly dirty and left for days so the contents were rancid. Lack of control of the adolescents on the top floor who were allowed to run amock all night disturbing patients in the lower rooms. Take away food bought in by patients left in the main sitting area and not cleaned away until the following day looked more like a refuge tip. Staff levels inadequate especially at night when it was generally "bank" staff who slept most of the night and could not be located in the case of emergency. Both junior doctors were both helpful and understanding. Only a very few members of staff showed any real care.The therapist were overbearing and presumptuous. A very distressing experience one that will not be repeated. Look before you leap with your cheque book.

The Priory Hospital North London 2016-07-09 Person 4 5 0

I was on the addiction therapy programme three years ago and have stayed clean ever since. In my rating on "Did you feel involved enough in decisions made about you" I gave a low score because when I entered upon treatment I handed over my health and addiction to the doctors, nurses and therapists working there. It was my "control" over decisions that had led me to addiction and the mess I was in at the time. Did I feel respected? Absolutely. Did I feel cared for? Yes. When I first arrived two nurses gave very good advice and told me just to go along with everything that I was told to do. Is it a perfect system? Of course not and anyone who expects that, is in my experience from The Priory, looking for someone or something to blame rather than taking responsibility for their own actions. There are other ways to beat addiction and cheaper ways but The Priory, Southgate provides treatment in a beautiful setting with luxury private rooms and excellent food and it is not necessary to wait months or years for admittance. The price is not cheap but bear in mind you are paying for 24 hour care and intensive personalised treatment. Even though I have very little money I took out a loan to attend the addiction programme and 3 years later am still paying off the loan. Every penny of that loan was worthwhile. I also opted for day care. Why? Because of the psychological benefits of making the conscious decision to go (of my own free will) every day. This re-inforced my commitment to stop drinking. In fact, now three years later I am flying to London to re-visit The Priory to re-in force all I learned there. My advice to anyone considering the addiction therapy programme for themselves is to follow the advice that was given to me by those two nurses and that is to "go with the flow." Do everything you are told to do. Allow your personal life and relationships to be completely exposed and hold nothing back. The mortality rates for addiction are 1/3 of patients die within two years, 1/3 stay abstinent and 1/3 struggle with addiction for the rest of their lives. From my group in The Priory, one is now dead and one threw himself under a train. But most of the others have stayed clean even though some have had the odd relapse. You will get out of the programme as much as you put in - it's up to you. I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending the ATP in this hospital and no hesitation in recommending the staff. I am alive and for that I am very grateful