Priory Hospital Romiley, located in Cheshire, is a 10-bedded, community focused rehabilitation and recovery service for females of working age. We support those who have a primary diagnosis of psychosis and/or affective disorders who may also have co-morbidities including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance misuse issues, physical health difficulties and emotionally unstable personality disorder.

Our primary purpose is to support patients to develop confidence, skills and independence whilst managing their mental health symptoms, in order to achieve a life worth living in the community or the least restrictive alternative.

Focus on Safety

Our absolute priority is to make sure we operate safe and effective services 24/7 and that all staff understand what is required of them to make that happen. Click here to read more.

Our approach

We use a recovery-based model of care which recognises the seven principles of recovery:

• Hope
• A secure base
• A sense of self
• Supportive relationships
• Empowerment and inclusion
• Coping strategies
• Purpose

Our service is patient-centred, comprehensive and collaborative and focuses on achieving realistic goals and ensuring an effective pathway to the community.

• We encourage communal living and mirror what it would be like for patients to be living in the community
• Patients are encouraged to be involved in the running of the service. We run a regular house meeting and have patient representatives who attend clinical governance meetings
• Carers and relatives are encouraged to participate in their loved one’s care, and can join in on ward rounds. We also help to facilitate regular contact between carers and relatives
• We follow a robust and evidence-based clinical model of care and use outcome measures including START, HoNOS and LUNSERS

 Patients will be offered a bespoke care plan, which will include the following:

• Arts and crafts
• Creative writing
• Mindfulness and relaxation sessions
• 1:1 psychology support
• Activities of daily living support

Visiting times are flexible but we encourage this to be outside of the therapy day. We also promote protected meal times.

Our Hospital Director, Cynthia Marimo sat down with Occupational Therapy Lead, Anna Winch, for a Q&A session, delving into the OT programme, pathway of support and the activities on offer. Watch their video:

The Environment

Romiley is a community-facing hospital which provides a homely environment set within a quiet residential area. We benefit from close links to transport routes, shops, parks and educational facilities. This setting fully supports reintegration into the community and empowers the individual to learn or re-learn skills to promote their independence.

The hospital benefits from a bright and open environment that captures the comfort and familiarity needed to promote recovery.

We promote positive risk taking and proactively utilise the community as a therapeutic resource. The service also benefits from having its own seven seater vehicle which enables patients to access areas further afield. 

The hospital consists of:

• An occupational kitchen with on-site chef
• A comfortable and homely living area
• Large bathrooms and wet rooms
• Large dining area
• Generous outdoor space
• Therapy rooms
• Family room/ multi-faith room

Discharge planning

From the point of admission, the team works with the patient using an assertive recovery model. Patients are supported and encouraged to set achievable goals to design their future life outside of hospital.

Ongoing assessment provides transitional goals which will be further developed following review.

Transitions are made in collaboration with the patient. All relevant staff, carers and community services are involved in this process to ensure that a robust plan is in place to support the patient’s return to the community.

We would aim for our patients to be discharged to independent living, but where this is not achievable, our patients would be supported in a transition to the least restrictive alternative.