Priory Woodbourne: Alcohol rehab & drug detox - Birmingham - Birmingham

Dylan Grears

My experience of the priory (The Manor Ward) is mixed, but mainly it has been a positive one. I was admitted for the 28-day residential in which I spent a week detoxing and learning to manage alcohol cravings. I initially really struggled with not being allowed the freedom to go outside or exercise to control my mind and cravings which were at times unbearable. However, the staff and myself discussed this with my consultant who prescribed me further medication to take the edge off the irritability I was having.

My sleeping was mixed, but I was allowed medication as a last resort should I fail to get over naturally.

The yoga, mindfulness, relaxation, and fitness classes the priory offer are all good to take part in, I came in with an open mind and grew to actually enjoy yoga (something I never thought was possible).

A negative for me would be the quality of food that we receive, the money that the patients spend to come here I would expect a lot better, the standard at times was appalling & inedible, leaving me no choice to eat either sandwiches, soup or salad. I also think that we could do with more amenities on site such as a gym, this doesn’t have to be flash, just a treadmill and an exercise bike. Something to get the endorphins going instead of slouching around all day, taking part in one activity a day or sometimes none and having the whole day to have your mind wander and think. It can become too much at times.

I’d lastly like to leave a special mention to some of the staff who work here at the Priory, I did not have an issue with any member although there is some who go over and above and who I connected with and felt safe and comfortable around. Teresa & Julia are absolute diamonds with great personalities who build great relationships with all the patients. The stand out for me was Aisha, such a kind hearted soul who was the first nursing team staff I met when I arrived, she made me feel safe and cared for, she checked up on me constantly and nothing was ever an issue for her, i couldn’t help but smile any time she was on her shift because she had such a warm, caring heart that gave me comfort during such a difficult time in my life. I will look back fondly at my time at the priory with hope that I can continue on my path to sobriety with the tools and support I have received. I will be entirely grateful, god bless you all. The work you do is amazing.

Ayan Ali

I would like to thank the team here at Elm ward for the incredible support they have provided to our family during a very difficult time. The staff at elm ward were friendly and extremely understanding they gave us hope when we had lost it. We would call daily to check on our family member and we never felt like we were burdening staff . The level of professionalism and dedication to their patients is astounding and I would recommend them to anyone in such difficult times . Our family member was treated with kindness, compassion and dignity. The recovery and progress he has made is so remarkable and it wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the team here at elm ward.
Thank you so much for everything you’ve done for us.

Umair Choudhry

I had a lovely experience in elm ward that allowed me to recover from my illness. Now it was a new thing for me to be ill.However i managed to recover properly due to the lovely staff thst helped me out and their patience. I just want to say a big thank you to all of them.

David Wright

The whole hospital is great, however Elm goes the extra mile with not just the staff but also the presentation of the ward!
The artwork on the ward is thoughtful and shows the positivity that the ward staff bring to their job!! Always greeted with a warm smile and positivity!

Amy Stafford

My experience at the priory has mostly been positive. The staff are really friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. During my stay I required treatment for a preexisting condition at an NHS hospital. I was transferred there quickly and regularly checked up on.

There sometimes seems to be a lack of communication and also a couple of times I've not been listened to when I know how to manage my preexisting condition. I've had to repeat the same information many times, however one nurse refused to believe it.

I've developed a good report with many members of the staff. Unfortunately I'm rubbish with names but Aisha, Juliah, Theresa, John, Howard, Suzy and Rachel stand out in particular.

The main negative points are outside the staff control. These include the quality of the food, the lack of chilled water and air-conditioning (which I imagine would come in useful for patients detoxing).

The facilities are really good and the level of care is excellent. The therapists are really good and excellent at getting people to really open up and be honest with themselves.

J Khan

Elm Ward

My experience with Elm Ward has been really positive. They really have created a place of safety and warmth.
All the staff go above and beyond for their patients and are always so supportive.
A special recognition for Nooj the Ward Manager who always filled me with reassurance that my relative was being well looked after. She supported him in all aspects including medically and professionally. Additionally, as Nooj was Muslim, it gave me even more comfort as I knew our needs in terms of our faith would not be compromised.
Thank you to all the staff at Elm, you really have made a difference! Keep up the good work!

P Singh

The structure of the programme is excellent and the therapy is thorough and my opinion is that if you put effort into the programme and have an open mind then it is likely to work for you. Addiction therapy averages about 3 hours a day and each patient gets one 1-1 session a week. Lighter sessions such as art therapy, relaxation, fitness class, and yoga are also offered throughout the week around addiction therapy. I experienced pretty much all the therapy treatment with therapists Dorothea and Helen, they are absolutely amazing and show a genuine deep care for all patients. The nursing staff are on site 24/7 providing care and support around the clock, each and every nursing staff are so nice to all patients. Aisha, Jo, Shareen and Egor I connected with and found them exceptionally caring and made my experience so comfortable. The accommodation is kept clean and place has the basic necessities needed whilst undergoing treatment, but is by no means luxury. The place would definitely benefit from better facilities such as if it included a gym/spa/wellness areas and if it had better living and communal areas. The food is the wards biggest downfall and sometimes un-edible. Being a private ward I think the food for this ward should be much higher quality and healthier to represent that of a detox treatment facility

georgie

The Manor ward is very nice, nice garden, lovely communal areas, the staff have been lovely, nothing but helpful. Aisha, Rachel, Suzy, Stacy and Howard genuinely some of the most understanding and genuine people i’ve met, especially due to the circumstances, they always know how to put a smile on someone’s face and how to deal with hard situations. would definitely recommend. couldn’t have done this without their support