 Dr Chai Patel has been cleared of professional misconduct |
The head of the famous Priory rehabilitation clinics has been cleared of misconduct charges after insufficient evidence was produced. Dr Chai Patel, 50, of Oxshott, Surrey, was accused of failing to safeguard the health and welfare of residents at Lynde House in south-west London. He had been the head of Westminster Healthcare, which owned the home. The General Medical Council (GMC) cleared Dr Patel of professional misconduct at the hearing in London. Two reports relating to Lynde House, in Twickenham, were ruled inadmissible by the High Court at a judicial review of the disciplinary process earlier this year. Regret over evidence On Thursday the doctors' watchdog admitted there was insufficient evidence to prosecute him. Dr Patel faced being struck off after being accused of running a care home in which elderly patients were allegedly mistreated. After being cleared, Dr Patel said: "I was targeted because I was targetable. I've never thought this was a medical or clinical issue." He said the GMC should face questions about its governance processes. At the hearing Elizabeth-Ann Gumbel QC, acting for the Lynde House relatives group, said following legal advice the group would "reluctantly" call no evidence. She said: "They regret the evidence has neither been heard nor tested and they will not have a full investigation into their complaints."
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