
What will it take to get dentists out of the NHS? Nigel Jones reviews the Labour government’s approach to NHS dentistry and its impact so far.
Many years ago, I heard an anecdote about how a dentist had found himself on a long train journey sitting next to an MP. On discovering his fellow passenger was a health service dentist, the MP, so the story goes, asked: ‘Just what will it take to get you lot out of the NHS?’ I’ve no way of verifying the truth behind that tale but it’s hard not to wonder if the newish Labour government has been busy using its first few months in office to answer that question.
Take the examples of the budget and the Employment Rights Bill. Both can only increase the costs and complexity of running any business, but for small businesses who lack specialised HR expertise and flexibility to adapt, it must be particularly difficult. Surely, given one of the stated aims of the budget was to shore up the NHS, it did not go unnoticed that the NHS is supported by thousands of privately owned small businesses such as dental practices.
How might practice owners respond?
Well, there are already reports of business and practice managers being made redundant which is perhaps appropriate in some cases. In other situations, it would seem short sighted especially as these could be the very people to help practices stay on top of the evolving regulatory minefield or drive additional revenue to offset the additional costs.
And therein lies another possible response. Drive up private income to compensate for the increased running costs of the practice. Cross subsidy of NHS care by private patients is nothing new but increasingly looks like a form of localised stealth tax that challenges my concept of fairness and transparency.
To avoid that, an NHS practice could decide to follow the hundreds that have successfully gone before them and go wholly private which brings me full circle to my opening paragraph.
Is it cock up or conspiracy? Who knows? However, it’s hard not to view as ironic that efforts to protect the rights of workers might in part lead, as has been said many times over the years, to perceptions that the government is unfairly dismissing dentists from the NHS.
If you’re considering your options away from the NHS and are looking for a plan provider who will hold your hand through the process at a pace that’s right for you, you can start the conversation with Practice Plan on 01691 684165 or book your one-to-one NHS to private call today at practiceplan.co.uk/nhsvirtual.
For more information, visit practiceplan.co.uk/nhs.
This article is sponsored by Practice Plan.