Suki Singh, area manager for Practice Plan, will talk through how to successfully move to private dentistry at this year’s Dentistry Show London.
Hoping to gain more of the status of its bigger Birmingham sibling, this year’s Dentistry Show London takes place on 7 and 8 of October at the Excel.
As was the case at the NEC, members of the Practice Plan team will be poised and ready with a warm welcome for existing and potential customers, and possibly a chilled glass of fizz or a cocktail.
In addition, Practice Plan area manager, Suki Singh, will have a speaking slot in the practice owners and Business Management Theatre on Friday lunchtime. Here, he will talk about ‘how to make a successful move from NHS to private dentistry’.
In the recent Future of Dentistry Survey, conducted by research specialists Savanta and sponsored by Practice Plan, the majority of respondents indicated they believed 66% of all dental treatments would be carried out privately in five years’ time. So the current move away from NHS dentistry is something people expect to continue.
Never a better time
Many in the industry believe the combination of appointment backlogs caused by the pandemic and the shortage of NHS dentists mean there has never been a better time to make the move to private practice.
However, making such a big change to a practice can feel daunting and so having a membership plan in place can offer the reassurance some practice owners need to make the final decision.
The fear of leaving a relatively predictable level of income provided by an NHS contract can be allayed in many cases by the regular monthly income offered through a plan. In his 30-minute speaking slot, Suki will outline the five-step process Practice Plan takes a practice through when relinquishing part, or all, of an NHS contract.
These steps include helping you to decide whether a move away from the NHS is the right thing for you; exploring the financial side and assessing what your practice’s needs are to make the move work; choosing how to inform your existing patients of the change; supporting you during the change and being there to support you keep your business moving forward and realise your vision.
Make the change
‘I appreciate that deciding whether to leave the NHS and set up in private practice is probably one of the biggest decisions a practice owner will make,’ says Suki.
‘It’s not something to be taken lightly. Which is why we offer so much support to practice owners who are thinking about making this kind of change.
‘Practice Plan has been helping dentists through the process of leaving the NHS to go private for more than 25 years. So we have a lot of experience to pass on.
‘We have a team of 25 people whose role is to support practices before, during and for many years after setting up their membership plans so they’re able to offer a helping hand when needed.
‘If you see yourself handing back your NHS contract, Practice Plan will take things at a pace that suits you. We won’t rush people into something, as there’s no point. The time, as well as the numbers, has to be right for a practice to choose to make the change, and we’re prepared to help you to establish when that time is, whether that’s now or later. It’s your practice, so you set the pace.’
Following the session, Suki and his colleagues will be around to answer any questions so make sure you stick around for personalised answers to your burning questions. Alternatively, you can come and have an informal chat at Stand H42.
If the Dentistry Show London isn’t in your diary and you’d rather not wait to discuss your options away from the NHS, why not start the conversation with Practice Plan on 01691 684165, or book your one-to-one NHS to private call today: practiceplan.co.uk/nhsvirtual
For more information visit the Practice Plan website www.practiceplan.co.uk/nhs
