Priory Hospital Burgess Hill has been recognised for an outstanding patient safety and wellbeing initiative at the RLDatix Awards Europe 2025, held in Birmingham last night (Tuesday, 21 October).
The awards celebrate health and care professionals and teams driving improvements in care quality, patient safety and workforce effectiveness.
Priory Hospital Burgess Hill provides acute and psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU) mental health services for adult males.
The hospital’s team won in the Learning and Improvement Through Incident Reporting category for its Seclusion Episode Monitoring within a Mental Health Hospital initiative.
Seclusion – a measure used only in emergencies when a patient poses a risk to themselves or others – involves supporting someone in crisis by confining them in a safe environment away from other patients and colleagues. Its use is strictly regulated and subject to external review by clinical teams, best practice panels or safeguarding bodies.
The Priory initiative was commended for its measurable impact and commitment to continuous improvement.
By developing a structured approach to reviewing incident reports through the Datix record management system, the team analysed how and when seclusion episodes occurred, ensured that de-escalation techniques and medication interventions were attempted where possible, and confirmed that all episodes were concluded promptly and appropriately.
This structured review process has strengthened staff learning, improved reporting standards, and contributed to the successful accreditation of the hospital’s male PICU ward.
Janet Fletcher, Clinical Governance and Quality Manager at Priory Hospital Burgess Hill, said: “We’re incredibly proud of our team for this recognition. Their commitment to reflection, learning and patient safety has not only improved our practices but also strengthened the care experience for the individuals we support.
“This award is a testament to the dedication of our staff and their continuous drive to deliver the highest standards of mental health care.”
Paul Sanders, President UK and Ireland, RLDatix, said: “Congratulations to Priory Hospital Burgess Hill. The work behind the Seclusion Episode Monitoring within a Mental Health Hospital initiative shows what can be achieved when teams are committed to making care safer and better for everyone. It is a privilege to recognise your work.”
A full list of the RLDatix Awards Europe 2025 finalists can be found at: https://events.rldatix.com/event/summit-europe-2025/awards