The Priory Group is an independent provider of mental health

Mental health

Mental health describes either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life activities and...

 care facilities in the United Kingdom

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

. They also manage school

School

A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...

s, some for students with Asperger syndrome

Asperger syndrome

Asperger's syndrome that is characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction, alongside restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. It differs from other autism spectrum disorders by its relative preservation of linguistic and cognitive development...

 or high-functioning autism

High-functioning autism

High-functioning autism is an informal term applied to autistic people who are deemed to be "higher functioning" than other autistic people, by one or more metrics. There is no consensus as to the definition. HFA is not yet a recognised diagnosis in the DSM-IV-TR or the ICD-10.The amount of...

. The chief executive officer is Philip Scott.

They operate at nearly fifty different sites but they are best known for their alcohol 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 to Doughty Hanson & Co

Doughty Hanson & Co

Doughty Hanson & Co is a British private equity fund manager focused on leveraged buyout and recapitalization transactions primarily of upper middle-market companies in Europe...

 for £289 million. The company was sold again in July 2005 for £875 million to ABN Amro

ABN AMRO

ABN AMRO Bank N.V. is a Dutch state-owned bank with headquarters in Amsterdam. It was re-established, in its current form, in 2009 following the acquisition and break up of ABN AMRO Group by a banking consortium consisting of Royal Bank of Scotland Group, Santander and Fortis...

 (later taken over by Royal Bank of Scotland Group), netting the five company directors over £50 million.

Royal Bank of Scotland Group sold Priory to Advent International

Advent International

Advent International is a global private equity firm focused on buyouts of middle market growth companies in Western and Central Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia...

 in 2011.

Controversy

The healthcare group appeared in the media spotlight in 2005 following allegations of poor care at its homes. Dr Chai Patel

Chai Patel

Chaitanya Patel CBE FRCP is a British doctor, businessman and philanthropist. Born in Uganda to Indian parents, he obtained medical qualifications at the University of Southampton in 1979 and previously worked in the NHS...

 was represented at the General Medical Council

General Medical Council

The General Medical Council registers and regulates doctors practising in the United Kingdom. It has the power to revoke or restrict a doctor's registration if it deems them unfit to practise...

  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, but he was later cleared although suspicions remain. .

Further controversy surrounds the company due to the action of some of its high profile consultants. Dr. Peter 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.

Notable patients

• Caroline Aherne
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• Lily Allen
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• Susan Boyle
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• Beverley Callard
  Beverley Callard
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• Tom Chaplin
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• Craig Charles
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• Pete Doherty
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• Richey Edwards
• Jade Goody
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• Justin Hawkins
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• Kerry Katona
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• Patsy Kensit
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• Courtney Love
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• Kate Moss
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• Dougie Poynter
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• Lisa Marie Presley
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• Katie Price
• Kelly Smith
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• Robbie Williams
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• Amy Winehouse
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