CEO of Priory Group marks company's NI arrival
The Priory Group, Europe's leading independent provider of mental healthcare, has marked its arrival in Northern Ireland with the opening of its first facility in the country - a care home in Belfast.
The Ben Madigan care home in Newtownabbey, County Antrim, is a new 64-bed purpose-built care home, which will provide dementia and nursing services.
The opening of Ben Madigan is the result of significant investment being made by the Priory Group in the older people care home market and is part of the company's progressive expansion plans within the sector.
The choice of Belfast as the location for the Priory Group's first care home has been spearheaded by chief executive Philip Scott, who conducted the official opening of the care home, alongside esteemed guests and local dignitaries.
It is a return to his roots for Belfast-born Scott, who grew up in the area and began his career as a nurse in the local hospital. After completing his nursing training, he then embarked on two years further training in psychiatrics before completing a diploma at the University of Ulster.
As chief executive of the high-profile Priory Group, Scott is now responsible for an organisation, which is respected around the world, providing specialist care and support for service users with an extensive range of healthcare needs.
Scott said: "It is a real pleasure to open the Priory's first facility in Northern Ireland in my home city of Belfast. This is where my interest and career in healthcare first started and so it is very fitting that we mark the beginning of a new era for the business, and commence the expansion of our services, here.
"With the opening of the first care home in the Priory portfolio we are building on our already strong and established areas of expertise and offering an even more comprehensive range of facilities for service users."
The new Ben Madigan care home has been constructed on the site of an existing care home. The home has been finished to the highest specification and includes single room accommodation with en-suite facilities throughout. There is a choice of lounges and dining areas and a secure enclosed landscaped garden.
Bhavna Jones, Managing Director of Priory Group Care Homes Division said: "The experience and specialism the Priory Group has in mental health, complex and long term care will transfer really well into older people's services. Older people are coming into care and nursing homes later in life and are more frail. The residents are likely to have more complex needs and associated health issues that we are confident we have the experience to cater for."
The Priory Group now plans to increase its portfolio of care homes for older people with further new builds in Northern Ireland and England.
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