Priory chief will face GMC

The doctor at the head of the Priory alcohol and drug treatment centres could be struck off, it emerged today.

Dr Chaitanya Patel, 49, is to appear before the General Medical Council to answer charges of professional misconduct over his role managing a care home in Twickenham. He says he will clear his name.

He was head of Westminster Health Care, which owned and ran Lynde House in December 2000 when patients' relatives complained about mistreatment.

A report by an independent investigator upheld many of the allegations and Dr Patel gave up roles as a government health adviser and as a board member of Help the Aged.

Auriol Walters, of the Lynde House Relatives' Support Group, said: "My own mother went for three months without being bathed, was left in her own urine overnight and was deprived of water."

But Dr Patel said: "I am looking forward to clearing my name since I do not believe any claims that my behaviour amounts to professional misconduct."

Speaking to The Times he added: "The problem is that the report is a very poor, unfair, report."