In this episode of The Business of Dentistry Podcast, Suzanne Maxwell, practice owner of Drymen Dental Care, sat down with host and regional support manager Selina Alexander to discuss her move from NHS to private practice and how it has benefitted her team and patients.
Post-COVID, Suzanne found running her NHS practice unsustainable. The crunch came when she found herself while away on holiday faced with having to transfer funds from her own savings to cover the wages of her staff.
Suzanne took the momentous decision to make the move to hand back her NHS contract and move fully to private dentistry after around two years of drip-feeding patients onto a membership plan. It was thanks to the support she received from Practice Plan that she felt confident to be able to do this.
As she confesses, without that support she’s doubtful as to whether she would have gone ahead with a full conversion. ‘I don’t think I would’ve done it,’ she states. Whereas with someone looking at the figures with her she felt reassured and motivated enough to make the move. Suzanne gained further reassurance from speaking to an owner of a practice with similar demographics to hers who had already made the move – something Selina had been able to arrange for her.
More tailored care
Life post-conversion is calmer for the team, and business is thriving. Without the constraints of an NHS contract, Suzanne feels they can offer their patients more tailored care. ‘A big positive is we don’t have the sort of restrictions and rules and regulations that were there with NHS,’ she explains. ‘We can just do what we think is best for the patient and think about the patient rather than being restricted by what we can and can’t do.’
There’s never been a safer time to leave NHS dentistry. 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’re in safe hands with Practice Plan.
You can start the conversation today by calling 01691 684165 or booking your one-to-one NHS to private conversation at a date and time that suits you, just visit practiceplan.co.uk/nhsvirtual.
This article is sponsored by Practice Plan.
