A North East dentist has acquired his first two dental businesses and introduced new services with support from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking.
Dr Stephen Abdulla has acquired the Hurworth Dental Practice, Hurworth-on-Tees, and Milnes Dental Practice, Darlington. Stephen worked at the Hurworth Dental Practice for several years before taking ownership in February this year, and purchased the Milnes Dental Practice business in March.
Following his acquisitions, Stephen has boosted the range of services the practices can offer by adding new advanced cosmetic treatments, such as cosmetic bonding and advanced whitening procedures, as well as clear braces and cosmetic implant dentistry.
The practices are now accepting new patients, and aim to grow their patient base by 20% by 2020. To support this growth, the Hurworth Dental Practice will welcome a new dentist with a focus on teeth straightening later this month.
The Milnes Dental Practice currently employs a team of six, including two dentists. The Hurworth Dental Practice employs a team of eight, including two dentists along with a practice co-ordinator and practice manager who each work across both sites.
Stephen studied at Newcastle University, and was awarded Clinical Merit upon graduation in 2009. He went on to develop his surgical skills as a senior house officer in the Department of Maxillofacial Surgery at Sunderland Royal Hospital, and subsequently developed an interest in restorative dentistry. He holds a particular interest in cosmetic and implant dentistry, and has carried out extensive post-graduate study in these fields.
Dr Stephen Abdulla, owner, Hurworth and Milnes dental practices, said: “It was always an ambition of mine to own my own practice and I’d been searching for the right place for more than five years. With the support of the previous owners, my wife Dahlia, and Lloyds Bank at my side, I’ve now managed to acquire not just one, but two surgeries of my own. I hope to be able to offer a service to our patients that we can be proud of and that reflects the high standard of dental care and service we strive for.
“It’s very rare to find two sites that can service each other within a three mile radius, and this proximity means the practices can work hand-in-hand, enabling us to offer a greater level of service to our patients.
“Lloyds Bank acted quickly with its support, and really understood what I was looking to achieve. Our focus is now on bedding-in the business over the next year, and delivering an outstanding quality of care.”
Danielle Fraser, relationship manager at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “Stephen’s acquisition of these two practices has not only enabled him to own his own business for the first time, but has also helped bolster the range of services available to patients in the local community.
“We’ve pledged to lend up to £700 million to North East businesses this year to help them make key investments for growth, such as carrying out acquisitions. It’s just one part of our commitment to helping Britain prosper.”
