Priory Group

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The Priory Group is an independent provider of mental health care facilities in the United Kingdom. The chief executive is Chai Patel.

They operate at nearly fifty different sites but they are best known for their drink and drug treatment centres.

The company runs four types of facility; acute psychiatric hospitals, secure psychiatric units, rehab hospitals and special schools. It was founded in the early 1980s with the purchase of The Priory in London by an American healthcare company.

In 2002, the group was sold for £288 million.^[1] The company was sold again in July 2005 for £875 million, netting the five company directors over £50 million.^[2]

[edit] Controversy

The healthcare group appeared in the media spotlight in 2005 following allegations of poor care at its homes.^[3] Dr Patel was represented at the General Medical Council hearing by the brother of one of the company's leading consultants. A consultant who had previously been brought before the General Medical Council to answer claims of sexual misconduct with a patient. Dr Collins had been criticised for crossing the consultant patient boundary by meeting a patient outside of work and allowing his head to be turned’ by a pretty patient. The GMC did, however, clear Collins of sexual misconduct with the patient.^[4]

Further controversy surrounds the company due to the antics of some of its high profile consultants. Dr Rowan, founder of the group's eating disorder treatment regime is accused of taking cash gifts from a patient and getting her to change her £1.5 million will in his favour.^[5]