A Perthshire dental firm now has more than 20,000 patients on its books after acquiring an Alyth practice.
Infinityblu Dental Care and Implant Clinic announced yesterday that it had completed a lockdown purchase of Alyth Dental Care.
Infinityblu was founded by Chris Barrowman in Pitlochry 12 years ago with a team of three staff. In the past three years it added practices in Dunkeld, Crieff, Auchterarder.
The strategic buy-out of Alyth Dental Care’s Lothians-based owner means Infinityblu now covers five locations with more than 60 staff.
Mr Barrowman said: “In terms of growth, it has been a gradual and steady approach.
“We have always looked at opportunities to expand and have reinvested in the business wherever possible. The good thing for us is that we have grown, largely, though existing referrals.
“Obviously, it seems an unusual time to be taking over a business while we are in lockdown and unable to see patients face-to-face, but we’re offering virtual consultations through our website to offer patients the closest we can get to the normal.
“For the time being we’ll be working in the background to be fully operational, as and when the government says it is safe to lift the restrictions and we can continue forward in a positive direction in a post-Covid world,” Mr Barrowman added.
Plans for the Alyth acquisition include maintaining and increasing the current staff of seven but offering more implant and orthodontic services as well as new technologies such as invisible teeth braces and digital dentistry.
The additional purchase of the property next door on the town’s Commercial Street will become an extended patient waiting area and new surgery.
With concurrent moves in the firm’s Auchterarder practice to transform the existing single surgery into a three surgery practice on Main Street, Infinityblu’s ability to cater for growing patient lists will be greatly enhanced.
A recent evaluation of the company’s property portfolio, plus business, stood at more than £3 million.
With the £300,000 buy-out and extension of Alyth and the £400,000 property purchase and extension of the Auchterarder practice factored in, the evaluation of the business’ estate will top £4m.
Mr Barrowman added: “In terms of the Alyth practice, it is a case of building on the excellent service the team currently provides, but with the Infinityblu ethos, brand and support behind it as well as extending the range of services we can offer to patients.
“There is already a good base of patients, with a second surgery to be added to the existing practice almost straight away.”
rmclaren@thecourier.co.uk