Suki Singh debunks some of the myths around moving to private practice that may be getting in the way of dentists setting sail on a new way of life.
Have you been dreaming of a work schedule that leaves you time to breathe? Would you like to wake up in the morning without the dread of targets and clawback? Do you dream of being free of excessive admin? Are you someone who knows they could achieve all of those things in private practice but still haven’t made the move?
Why not? There has never been a better time to be an independent (private) dentist, so what’s holding you back? Could it be that you’re labouring under some misconceptions? That you’re putting obstacles in your own way that don’t really exist?
In days of yore, well, pre-pandemic, there were a number of myths about moving from NHS to private dentistry which were perceived as insurmountable barriers to making the move. In some cases, those myths did contain a grain of truth. However, the issues with patient access post-pandemic mean that many of them have now been swept away.
Here are some of the common barriers that have now been dismantled.
‘I’ll lose too many patients’
Highly unlikely. Also, you need to have fewer patients in private practice. One of the great benefits of private dentistry is being able to spend more time with each patient. In this case, you will be physically unable to see as many of them each day as you did as an NHS dentist.
As part of the assessment we carry out to help dentists decide whether a move away from the NHS is the right thing for them, we calculate how many patients they would need to remain with the practice as private patients to make the move a success. Practice owners are often surprised at how many patients they can afford to lose and still be financially viable. And that was in the pre-pandemic era.
Post-pandemic we have seen a shift in patient mindset which now means they are grateful to be able to get an appointment with a dentist, in some cases, any dentist! Consequently, they are now more prepared to pay for their treatment than pre-COVID-19. So, the likelihood of too few of your patients remaining with you is vanishingly small.
‘My practice is in the wrong area’
Again, something that could have proved a barrier in 2019, but in 2023 all bets are off! Over the past year or so, we have seen practices flourish in areas that would not previously have been considered obvious ones to support a private practice.
For example, a two-site practice in a rural area with a relatively low-income demographic was on the brink of closure as the owner was unable to recruit associates to deliver his NHS contract. Now, after handing back his contract, he has managed to recruit several associates and has converted a list of 10,000 NHS patients to 7,000 private patients. He is also able to carry out the sorts of treatments he’d been unable to do under his NHS contract.
So, it seems that location is no longer the barrier it could have been in the past.
‘My team won’t go with it’
For a conversion from NHS to private to go well it’s essential the whole team is on board. The key to ensuring this happens is to share your vision and plans with them. You may be surprised by their response.
If you’re feeling stressed and pressured by NHS targets and admin, isn’t it likely they are too? Weren’t they obliged to wear uncomfortable PPE during the COVID-19 restrictions as often as you were?
Although we’ve been ‘living with COVID-19’ for years now, the hangover from the pandemic is still affecting dental teams. They now also have to deal with patients who are reportedly more demanding and frustrated by the lack of access. Your team may well welcome a move to a less pressured schedule with open arms. Ask them.
‘Associates have threatened to leave rather than continue with NHS work’
In some cases, far from the team objecting to a move to private dentistry, they are the ones driving it! Some practices are converting because of the pressure put on the owner by the associates.
A number of our customers have told us that their associates have threatened to leave rather than continue with NHS work. They want a slower pace and to be able to get involved in a greater variety of treatments than the NHS allows. They have had enough of the relentless demands placed upon them by NHS targets.
Faced with the prospect of losing an associate and being unable to find another willing to carry out NHS work, owners have been yielding to the pressure and handing back their contracts. However, once the process has completed, not one of them has expressed any regret at having made the move. ‘I wish I had done it sooner,’ is something we hear regularly.
Our lives are different now from the ones pre-pandemic. There’s a new world order which has ushered in many changes. Many of the fears people may have had about leaving the NHS no longer apply and barriers have been removed. For anyone who has thought about making the move but has hesitated the question is, if not now, when? The road ahead is clear.
For more information on the perceived barriers when leaving NHS dentistry, check out our online digital brochure here.
If you’re considering your options away from the NHS and looking for a provider who will hold your hand through the process at a pace that’s right for you, 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 practiceplan.co.uk/nhs.
