As dentist, Simon Gallier says in this short video, in his experience of more than 30 years in dentistry, the NHS has always been underfunded.
Dentists would often go straight from university to working in an NHS practice and so had no experience of any other way of working. This leads him to compare working under an NHS contract to being in an abusive relationship.
And, like the participants in an abusive relationship, people often don’t see the abuse for what it is until they’re out of that environment, as they haven’t known anything else. To them, life was normal.
He recalls taking on a large contract of more than 24,000 UDAs per year where the practice was like a hamster wheel with staff having to run faster to keep up. Having worked in private practice for three decades, the fast and furious atmosphere of the practice left him reeling.
Reduction in workload
As a steady stream, or possibly torrent, of patients passed through the practice’s doors he knew that to be able to deliver the standard of treatment he wanted to offer to private patients, he would need to lose around one third of the number of patients on his books.
However, having done this twice before, he looked forward to the calm that would descend once he and Practice Plan had completed the transition.
Clearly, Simon is a staunch advocate of leaving the NHS for private practice. Not only because of the reduction in workload, but for the restoration of control over the business, too.
He has no regrets about leaving the NHS and has never met another practice owner who has regretted it either.
If you’re considering your options away from the NHS and are looking for a provider who will hold your hand through the process whilst moving at a pace that’s right for you, why not have a confidential and no-obligation chat with Practice Plan on 01691 684165, or book your virtual one-to-one NHS to private conversation: www.practiceplan.co.uk/nhsvirtual.
