Claire Nightingale speaks to us about Queens Gate Orthodontics winning Best Practice in the UK at last year’s Dentistry Awards.
How does it feel to have won at the Dentistry Awards?
My team and I are absolutely over the moon! To win one award would have been above expectations. But to win two was more than we could have possibly hoped for.
Winning Best Practice both in London and in the UK is testament to the hard work that we have all put in.
Did you enjoy the awards evening?
We did, although it was, I suspect, a little different from a normal Dentistry Awards!
The organisers, FMC, did a great job with the virtual event. Our whole team watched the proceedings at the practice.
We were euphoric when we won and cracked open the champagne!
Why did you choose to enter The Dentistry Awards?
I had been considering entering the awards for some time. Then a chance meeting at a British Orthodontic Society consultant meeting in 2019 with Chris Baker from Corona Marketing Limited made me realise how much work was involved and that I needed to get cracking!
What do you think the awards are doing to the standards within the profession?
I know that traditionally some in healthcare professions have been reticent about involving themselves with award ceremonies.
However, I don’t agree. The Dentistry Awards allow us to celebrate all that is good in modern orthodontics and dentistry.
Far from seeing it as a hostile environment in which dentists compete with one another, winning this award gives us legitimacy and allows us to compete more confidently with the new car, holiday and other discretionary purchases that our patients are considering investing in, instead of their smile.
Why do you think you won?
I hope that the judges recognised the whole team’s commitment to patient care. Both in the outcome of treatment but also in value as individuals – even in the times of COVID.
We manage our patient case load so that resources aren’t stretched. Everyone gets the time that they deserve.
Sometimes that may mean that we are a little overstaffed, but our reputation for great patient care is paramount. We want to make our patients feel special on every visit, whilst managing their expectations and those of the referrer and parent, where appropriate.
As multiple attendances are required for orthodontic treatment, that’s a big challenge!
Have you noticed a difference in patient numbers/in the practice since winning the award?
Obviously, we are living in unusual times and patient numbers are not where they would be in a normal year. But we have seen a significant increase in web visitors and then those visitors booking online consultations.
Will you be entering The Dentistry Awards again this year?
We very much hope to.
If we do, we’ll consider entering for the Best Patient Care, Most Improved Practice and Best Website categories.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Simply that, if you are considering entering the Dentistry Awards, you should definitely do it!
Our patients have been as thrilled as us with our success! We have obviously featured our winner’s stories in patient communications, on our website and in local media. As well as having the trophies proudly on display in the practice.
Patients love the fact that their orthodontist and practice has been given the award. It validates their own choice and nothing makes me feel happier than when they say: ‘I wasn’t at all surprised!’
For more information about The Dentistry Awards, visit www.thedentistryawards.com.
Hear from previous award winners:
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