About this location
Set in the Norfolk countryside a mile outside the town of Attleborough, Norfolk, Priory Hospital Norwich is an acute mental health hospital for adults.
Priory’s acute and PICU services aim to allow more people to be treated closer to home and we support the NHS to repatriate out-of-area patients back to local areas.
Services at a glance
2025 Care Quality Commission report
Priory Hospital Norwich, was rated ‘good’ by the CQC in February. Inspectors praised staff and management, awarding ‘good’ across all five areas, highlighting person-centred care. According to the report, “people and communities were at the centre of how care was planned and delivered at all times,”.
Rated Good by CQC - read more
The CQC report, published on 11th February 2025, highlighted that:
| Areas looked at | Rating |
|---|---|
| Effectiveness | Good |
| Caring | Good |
| Responsive | Good |
| Well Led | Good |
| Safe | Good |
| Overall rating | Good |
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Services
Our acute services offer round-the-clock assistance in times of emergencies. Our specialist inpatient acute teams are committed to providing the highest quality of care, supporting patients with a wide range of mental health conditions in safe and highly therapeutic environments.
Ward break down
- Two 12-bedded wards for females
- 10-bedded ward for males
Conditions treated
We can support people with:
- Acute mental health needs with the following risks:
- Suicide
- Self-harm
- Absconding
- Sexualised behaviour
- Alcohol misuse
We can also support people who have a history of absconding and a history of suicide attempts. We are able to accept patients who are detained under the Mental Health Act (MHA).
Treatment approaches
At Norwich, we offer an individualised, person-centred approach to all of our patients. Our main goal is assessment and stabilisation, to allow for discharge and onward planning.
There is a focus on discharge planning from the point of admission. We work closely with referring trusts to achieve minimum lengths of stay and are able to provide an extension to NHS care pathways during times of fluctuating demand.
We work with discharge teams to ensure a smooth transition back into existing community services, or to an individual’s home, where possible. Meetings are held with discharge co-ordinators to ensure clear action plans and continuity of care.
Our assessment and treatment options are overseen by a full and diverse multidisciplinary team (MDT).
We support patients with acute and complex mental health needs, using a therapeutic approach.
People within our service tend to stay with us on a short-term basis.
Our team
Our team consists of:
- Psychiatrists
- Psychologist
- Nursing staff
- Occupational therapy (OT)
- Administration team
- Kitchen staff
- Maintenance
Therapeutic and community-based activities
We offer a range of therapeutic and community-based activities as part of a full treatment programme. We want to support people to become more confident and independent, preparing them to move through their treatment pathway towards community living.
Our therapeutic and community-based activities include:
- Art
- Sports
- Baking and cooking
- Gardening
- Community walks
- Music sessions
- Pamper sessions
- Breakfast cub
Our facilities and environment
We believe that the environment in which treatment takes place is just as important as the treatment itself, when it comes to supporting our patients. We provide:
Our garden offers secure fencing, a patio area with furniture, a lawn, and planting areas.
Our bedrooms
All of our bedrooms are single-occupancy and have an en-suite bathroom. They are light, spacious and clean, with storage space, locked storage and in some rooms we have safes. We also provide:
Exclusion profile
- People under the age of 18
- History of arson or accidental fire setting
- A learning disability or autism
- Current or historical presentation of violence, likely to require seclusion
- Pregnancy-related mental health problems, including postnatal depression and postpartum psychosis
- Current or recent forensic presentation of an intent to harm others
- Substance misuse requiring physical health treatment
- Physical disabilities/illness that cannot safely be managed in the hospital
Pathways
Priory’s network of high quality facilities enables us to offer joined-up care pathways with our dedicated residential services. We offer programmes which integrate healthcare treatment and therapy, which are tailored according to individual needs, in an appropriate setting. Our strength is that we can provide a seamless transition for the individual as they progress between higher and lower dependency services.
A message from our site leader
We have created a culture based on learning and quality improvement for better patient outcomes
Norwich site leader
Information for family and friends
How do home visits work?
We can help to arrange home visits, where appropriate.
What is your visitation policy?
We are flexible with visiting times. However, we do ask that relatives telephone the hospital before they come for a visit, so we can make sure this doesn’t clash with any therapy.
Will I be involved and kept up to date with my loved one’s care and wellbeing?
Yes, we make every effort to keep the loved ones of our residents involved in their care, from admission onwards.
Will my loved one be able to have a phone or call me?
Patients can keep their own mobile phones, following a risk assessment. They can also use the hospital phones, if needed.
What type of things are families expected to provide, and what is provided by the home?
We provide all furnishings and food on-site. People staying with us can bring personal belongings.
What are the bedrooms like?
All of our bedrooms are furnished, and residents are supported to personalise them to suit their needs and wishes. They are all single person, en-suite rooms.
Are external doors kept locked?
All of our external doors are locked. However, every person staying with us will be individually assessed for any risks to see what security is needed.
What do service users eat and how do meal times work?
We have set meals times and all dietary requirements are catered for.
How does laundry work?
Each ward has laundry facilities and there is also a central laundry on-site.
Is there anything they can’t bring or have?
We have a restricted and prohibited items list, which is reviewed and updated regularly. This can be seen on request.
Are pets allowed?
No, unfortunately pets are not allowed.
How do activities work?
All patients have an individualised activity programme, which is arranged by the MDT.
Do service users and families have an input into the service user’s care plans?
All of the people staying with us and their families/friends are invited to be actively involved in care planning.
What are the car parking facilities?
There is free car parking on-site.
What is the smoking policy? Can service users buy cigarettes?
Norwich is a non-smoking site.
How is treatment accessed and funded?
We don’t take referrals directly from individuals and families. Instead, the first step will be for you to reach out to the person’s GP so that they can be referred and funded through the correct NHS channel. Depending on the type of support needed, this could include local authority funding, NHS funding, joint funding between the local authority and NHS, or direct payments. Please note, referrals for NHS or local authority funded services must come from a referring organisation.
How to make a referral
Our customer service centre provides 24/7 support for NHS mental health enquiries and referrals. Our customer referral co-ordinators can support you from your first call right through to the enquiry conclusion, providing updates throughout the process. We offer 24/7 crisis referrals, fast access to bed availability and placements, and a single access point for end-to-end enquiry management.