Susan Boyle may stay in The Priory for more than a few days
June 3rd, 2009 | 
Author: 
Susan Boyle receives an "open offer" from Simon Cowell
Susan Boyle may need to stay in the Priory Clinic for a few weeks in order to make a complete recovery, says Professor Chris Thompson, the chief medical officer of The Priory.
Whilst Professor Thompson was not speaking specifically about Susan Boyle, he made the general point to the Daily Mail that “any admission to a psychiatric hospital for a matter of days is, in my opinion, a failed admission, because either it was unnecessary in the first place or the job hasn’t been done fully.”
He emphasised that The Priory Clinic “is not a rest home and it’s not a spa. It is a psychiatric hospital”.
Professor Thompson’s words cast doubt on Susan’s family’s optimism that she would just be in the clinic for a few days.
Meanwhile, government ministers have been calling for a review of the Broadcasting Code so that vulnerable contestants can be sufficiently protected when they appear in reality TV shows.
However, it is my personal view that the negative, unwarranted and quite frankly mean spirited press reports, where they built this lovely, vulnerable lady up and then dragged her down, are what stressed her out the most. This view is shared by Amanda Holden, who speaking on CNN’s Larry King Live, said that Susan Boyle was upset by “exaggerated stories” and “falsehoods” written about her. She maintained that the show was not to blame, and that contestants that appear on the show are well looked after and that Susan “is getting the best support she could possibly be getting at the moment.”
Despite Professor Thompson’s comments, Susan’s family are still optimistic that she will bounce back quickly. Perhaps Susan would recover more quickly if she spent time in her own home, with her cat Pebbles and surrounded by the people who know and love her. I know if I leave my own cat Lucy for any length of time, I always worry about her.
Susan doesn’t have to stress that she will miss out on a career either. One of Simon Cowell’s assistants has been to visit Ms Boyle in The Priory and made her an ‘open offer’ for a record deal.
“Simon Cowell has reassured her there is a record deal there for her if she wants it. If she doesn’t want to do it that’s fine. There’s no pressure and no rush.”
So Mr Nasty has a nice side after all.
It is unlikely that Susan will be well enough to take part in the Britain’s Got Talent tour that is due to start in Birmingham on June 16th, although I am sure there will be lots of opportunities for her to perform in the future – on her own terms.
Posted in News | 
Tags: Amanda Holden, Britain's Got Talent tour, Priory Clinic, Professor Chris Thompson, Simon Cowell, Susan Boyle
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I along with many others wish Susan the speediest of recoveries. She deserves a rest after all that has happened upon the discovery of her talent. The sad thing is that it was not discovered before as it is obvious she has been singing for many years.
I have seldom heard anyone who stirs such emotions in me. Her phrasing, tone, and interpretation of a song are absolutely stunning. I have played the videos over and over again as I never get tired of hearing them.
Regardless of where she is right at this moment she achieved her dream and hopefully any sadness she has experienced in her life will be made up for in a fantastic singing career.
I do hope that Piers Morgan is careful in his affections if he’s not a genuine friend. She does not need a broken heart on top of everything else.
What a happy ‘discovery’ Susan is for us all.
was quite horrified to read Alastair Jamieson’s article yesterday concering susan Boyle.
Which makes me say “Get Susan Boyle out of there”. The automatic assumption of Professor Chris Thompson, Chief Medical officer of the priory is that once admitted you are “mentally ill”. The article then says ‘doctors’ [not identified] said that patients could not be expected to recover “without a sustained period of treatment”. Well that will roll in the money for the Priory no doubt.
Professor Christ Thompson has breached Susan Boyle’s confidentiality completely. First he declares he cannot talk about “Susan Boyle specifically” but then apparently says anyone assessed under the mental health act as the singer had been would be under a “degree of Risk”, this together with the premise of “a sustained period of treatment” means in my view Susan Boyle is at severe risk in this psychiatric establishment. Get her out and send her to a Spa or better still to her home. The psychiatric system has a way of making mountains out of molehills. When exhaustion” becomes “mentally ill” we all need to worry.
Yours Sincerely
Margaret Kennedy
Hi Margaret, thanks for your comments. I am tempted to agree with a lot of the things you say. There is a huge difference between being stressed and being mentally ill, and Amanda Holden has said in an interview that Susan has no “underlying mental health issues”. I’m tempted to think that Susan would recover better at home with her cat than in a clinic surrounded by psychiatric nurses. However, I have to bear in mind that I only know what I read in the press and I don’t really know the concrete facts behind Susan’s alleged breakdown.
Susan’s brother said, that she suffered an anxiety attack which certainly isn’t a mental illness (link = http://www.helpguide.org/mental/anxiety_types_symptoms_treatment.htm. On that site, it is said, that anxiety attacks are highly treatable and that many people are panic free within just 5 to 8 treatment sessions).
Since Simon Cowell reassured Susan that she has a bright future, her dream should finally materialize.
I certainly wish Susan all the best.
Susan needs to fulfill her dream by singing for the queen. Susan should have won Britain’s got talent.Susan has the most powerful voice I ever heard. God Blessed her with greatness. Don’t try to change her too much, she is beautiful on the inside out. Actually in the eyes of the people, she won.