An account of care provided at Priory Hospital Bristol
A testimonial from Lotus Ward – eating disorder care*
The whole time I have been on Lotus Ward, the staff have been so kind, compassionate and there is a real family oriented feel to the ward, where the staff communicate with you well and it feels like they include you in decisions, so we all work cohesively together.
When I first arrived, I felt scared, but staff were amazing. Everyone was so kind and understood what I was going through. They made me feel welcome. I really believe that each and every one of them really cared about me and want me to get better. I’ve never had that in any other placement I have had.
It feels as though staff genuinely love their jobs and put their heart and soul into everything they do for us. Until I came here, I didn’t realise what a good eating disorder unit should be and how I should be treated. For the first time in years, I feel like I have a future, and I am so thankful for that.
I cannot fault or praise the ward highly enough. It’s just another level. The staff team are very present on the ward and will always make themselves available if you need them. You cannot ask for more. Staff have taken the time to get to know me and have given me the opportunity to retake control of my life.
There is plenty to do, and I attended therapy groups, and when they felt intense, the staff allowed us to take breaks and it felt like a safe space for sharing experiences. I also felt like an adult, as care isn’t too restrictive unless it is for our safety – I could even have access to my own mobile phone and I could video call my family.
I felt reassured that just because I reached a healthy body mass index that wasn’t an excuse to shove me out the door. I worked with the team on maintaining that and continued to learn life and coping skills. For the first time ever, I didn’t feel I had to ‘eat my way out of hospital’ because I was happy to be here.
*This account is anonymised and is based on testimonials provided by the CQC after a visit in August 2025