One of Scotland’s fastest growing independent dental groups has signed a pioneering partnership with a 5-Star Hertfordshire hospital giving it access to English markets for the first time.

Infinityblu Dental Care and Implant Clinic was founded in Perthshire in 2007 by Chris Barrowman and has since grown to become a 12-practice group through careful acquisitions and significant investment within Scotland.

Now, in the first move of its kind, the Pitlochry-founded group has signed a formal implant and co-branding partnership with OSD Healthcare, which operates a state-of-the-art private hospital 27 miles from London.

The unique deal sees founder Chris Barrowman, one of Scotland’s leading implant providers, offering OSD Healthcare patients with full mouth and other implant options at their high-tech facility in Hemel Hempstead.

Both partners will co-operate on co-branding and marketing strategies, guided by Infinityblu’s growth journey experience this side of the border.

Uniquely, the partnership will also enable patients from both Scotland and England to have implant work undertaken under General Anesthetic, thanks to access to the hospital’s on-site anesthetic experts and suites.

This development represents a first for both partners, with patients having the opportunity to have a complete set of teeth implanted in one day, whilst asleep.

Re-shaping the future

The deal came about through a desire by OSD Healthcare, which provides all aspects of private healthcare at the one hub, to further develop its dentistry provision informed by shared values.

Acknowledging the synergic approach, Infinityblu also welcomed an opportunity to expand its services to its first English staging post, just a 20 minute taxi ride from Luton Airport.

Founder Chris Barrowman, believes holistic partnerships such as these, between dental and healthcare providers, offer a glimpse of the future in dentistry.

“This is very exciting,” he said. “OSD Healthcare’s patient care ethos and values closely align with ours and, with the way the dental environment is, we are looking at new ways of providing what we can offer, away from the traditional model.

“These types of long-term partnerships are sustainable because you are growing together.”

He added: “There is no reason why this couldn’t be done in other hospitals or healthcare settings.

“Yes, there are providers who might bring in consultants to do specific treatments, but this is a partnership where we are co-branding together. That is the unique element of this partnership. We are dualling operations, protocols and the patient journey. Our marketing teams are working together but we are also sharing what we’ve learned, on a consultancy basis.”

Treading new ground

Infinityblu currently has practices in Perthshire in Pitlochry, Dunkeld, Crieff, Alyth, Auchterarder and Killin, with a new site in Perth city to open soon.

The group also has practices in Callander, Duns, Auchtermuchty, Eyemouth, Peebles and Galashiels.

The new partnership sees them moving into wider UK markets.

“It is an opportunity for us to get our brand outside of Scotland,” said Chris Barrowman.

“But it is also an opportunity for us to give back what we have learned and to do that in a medical setting. Walking in there, it already feels like another Infinityblu practice, which is great.”

More about Infinityblu: infinitybludental.co.uk