John Preston has agreed a new distribution relationship with Gainsborough Healthcare Group so we can supply Abacus Specialist Bathroom Solutions and Access Walk-in Baths to our customer base in the UK and Ireland. Gainsborough has been one of Europe’s leading accessible bath manufacturers for over 35 years. With an established production line in Walsall, West Midlands, Gainsborough provides four quality brands which meet specialist bathing needs in care homes, healthcare environments and domestic bathrooms. Two of these well-known brands, Abacus and Access, will now be available through John Preston – ensuring we can continue to solve a wider range of clinical and lifestyle needs.

Read our joint press statement with Gainsborough Healthcare Group 

John Preston is a sixth-generation family business started in 1846. It is a specialist supplier of homecare, medical and mobility equipment throughout the UK and Ireland. With dual headquarters in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, and Edinburgh, John Preston provides high quality solutions to retail customers, healthcare providers, care homes and local authorities. Its product portfolio continually evolves to include the latest innovations so becoming a distributor of Abacus and Access baths was a logical decision for the business.

Gary Allen, Sales Manager/Paediatric Product Specialist at John Preston, explains the strategy behind the new agreement: “We are proud to see our relationship grow with Gainsborough Healthcare Group as we expand our product portfolio with its extensive range of walk-in baths and assisted bathing solutions. Our customers will love their modern, function-rich designs meaning they won’t have to sacrifice aesthetics to meet mobility requirements in the home. The wide selection of optional extras will also allow our clients to tailor their bathing experience with Airspa jets, chromotherapy lighting, heated seats and Bluetooth sound – for ultimate comfort and enjoyment.”

Abacus baths typically focus on supporting paediatric bathers with mild to complex disabilities. Both in rehabilitation and consumer settings, Abacus is regularly specified by occupational therapists and families whilst providing an ideal solution for a Disabled Facilities Grant. Its Gemini 2000 hi-lo platform bath won the OT Show ‘Excellence in Caring’ Award. Whereas Access walk-in solutions cater for the senior market where restricted mobility has become a barrier to using a standard bath. Together these brands will provide John Preston with an all-encompassing accessible bathing portfolio.

Peter Eckhardt, CEO, Gainsborough Healthcare Group, concludes: “We value our new relationship with John Preston. By synergising together, we can now deliver life-enhancing bathing to a wider audience – supported by John Preston’s proven excellence in client-centric assessment and service. This development will geographically broaden the reach of our game-changing proposition and ultimately result in safer, more inclusive bathing for more vulnerable bathers.”

We are excited to offer free consultations and demonstrations in our Lisburn showroom to guide our customers through the extensive range of products and custom options offered by Access and Abacus walk-in baths. We also welcome requests from OTs and trusts for more information on the clinical application of the Gainsborough range of assisted bathing solutions.