Barry Walsh and John Murphy, owners of the MedFit Wellness and Rehabilitation centre in Dublin, Ireland have confirmed that they are planning to roll out the brand.

Speaking to Health Club Management, (pp. 34-36), the pair said they would look at expansion once the MedFit model was established in Ireland.

Barry Walsh said: "There aren't too many similar concepts in Ireland or the UK. So our challenge lies in marketing it and getting prospects to try it out.

"Our vision is long-term and on a continuum. We want to define our product and market and, once we are confident of our model, we will identify new international markets to expand our brand."

The MedFit concept is based on the European model of combining a physiotherapy clinic with a gym.

The 372sq m (4,000sq ft) MedFit opened in Dublin in February and offers a rehabilitation spinal centre combined with a public gym. The operation is overseen by a clinical director who works with two physiotherapists, two sports scientists and one strength and conditioning coach.

Walsh said the idea came from speaking to GPs who see the fitness industry as an unregulated sector with a varying degree of qualifications and "no real credibility".

"The GPs and surgeons in Germany have a lot more faith in fitness, especially in the sports scientists, and they actually work together to develop programmes to treat patients," he added.