Priory To Invest £35 Million In Northern Ireland Expansion

The Priory Group, Europe's leading independent provider of mental healthcare, is to invest more than £35 million over the next three years creating 700 jobs, as part of an aggressive growth strategy within Northern Ireland.During a visit to Northern Ireland Philip Scott, chief executive of The Priory, made the announcement, as the firm celebrated the opening of its first facility in the country - a 64-bed purpose built care home in Belfast.He outlined plans to increase bed capacity in Northern Ireland to 700 by 2012, representing an investment of more than £35m.The opening of the Ben Madigan care home in Belfast marks a significant move by The Priory into the older people care home market, being only the second care home to be operated by the group. The Priory now has plans to rapidly increase its care home portfolio, with further builds in Northern Ireland and across the UK.The choice of Belfast as the location for the Priory Group's first Irish facility has been spearheaded by chief executive Philip Scott.Belfast-born Scott 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 the beginning of a new era for The Priory. There is a clear need for high quality specialist care facilities and care homes within Northern Ireland, and that presents a perfect growth opportunity for us. "We are currently in the process of sourcing suitable locations in which we can look to develop purpose-built facilities across the care home sector, but also in education and specialist care, our already strong and established areas of expertise."It is fitting that The Priory's first facility in Northern Ireland is in my home city of Belfast. We mark the beginning of a new chapter for the business, in the heart of the city where my passion for the healthcare sector was first honed."

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