Perthshire dental group welcomes new NHS patients
One of Scotland’s fastest growing independent dental groups is to open half of its practices to new NHS patients in a step which will help thousands of families. Infinityblu Dental Care and Implant Clinic has opted to open lists for new patients in six of its 12 practices.
The award winning firm, founded in Perthshire by a Scottish Young Dentist of the Year, Chris Barrowman, is also pre-registering new NHS patients in advance of the opening of its flagship five surgery practice in Perth, in 2025.
At the Scottish Parliament in February, Willie Rennie MSP led a debate on the ‘crisis in NHS dentistry’, with several local authorities reporting year-long waiting lists for patients or no local services at all.
We now have that capacity to open up for new patients, knowing they will get the standard of service we want to deliver
Chris Barrowman
By creating greater flexibility and capacity across its expanding practice network, Infinityblu is opting to cement its commitment to NHS dental services. The decision will apply for adults and children in the group’s practices in Dunkeld, Auchterarder and Killin in Perthshire, and in Peebles and Duns in the Scottish Borders. New patients under the age of 26 will also be offered NHS registration in its Callander practice.
Mr Barrowman said the decision showed the group’s commitment to providing access for all budgets and ensuring standards of care for all, whether NHS, private or plan patients.
“We have talked about this for some time now,” he said. “We wanted to ensure we had the capacity and flexibility to be able to make this move, which is currently against the grain of most Scottish dental practices, and provide NHS dental care across the business. We also wanted to ensure our dentists and teams were fully supportive of the move.
“Our Infinityblu practices already offer NHS services to existing patients. The difference now is that we will be opening the lists at these practices for newly registering NHS patients.
“For us, it has always been about patient care. While we have always been committed to providing NHS dental services where possible, there was no advantage having people sitting on long waiting lists not getting the care they deserve, or having to wait considerable time for treatment that then develops into a larger and more costly problem. There have been some improvements in what we can provide as an NHS dentist, and much more clarity in what was an out-of-date system.
“Thankfully we now have that capacity to open up for new patients, knowing they will get the standard of service we want to deliver. I also want Infinityblu to play a part in bringing NHS dentistry to thousands more Scottish patients.”
New NHS patients wishing to register for these practices are being asked to contact 01796 475 380 or to email enquiries@infinitybludental.co.uk