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Nigel Jones explains how revisiting the basics of the patient journey can help dental practices cope with rising costs. Many of the practice owners I talk to are struggling with the squeeze on profitability caused primarily by the rising costs of running a practice. For some, this is already prompting worries around the value of…
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Nigel Jones tackles the everlasting question of workforce planning in light of recent developments in the dental sector. From budgets to potential CMA inquiries and from GDC strategies to consumer media appearances, it’s clear we still need to talk seriously about workforce issues in UK dentistry. There has been a lot of talk for many…
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Nigel Jones considers why private dentistry is growing in appeal following the release of recent practice valuation reports. There have been a couple of practice valuation reports recently highlighting the growing appeal of private dental practices. Given the economic context in which the country currently finds itself, some have expressed surprise that this is the…
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Nigel Jones explains why NHS dentistry is increasingly looking like unsolvable Rubik’s Cube. So, a fundamentally reformed contract for NHS dentists in England has been promised by the end of this parliamentary term and negotiations should begin this autumn. I say ‘begin’ but given deliberations about contractual arrangements have been going on since 2008, perhaps…
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Nigel Jones shares his thoughts on the recently released NHS 10-Year Health Plan and its implications for NHS dentistry. Given the scale of the challenges across the whole of the NHS, it’s no surprise that dentistry warrants relatively little attention in the plan. Indeed, despite its prominence as an election issue, the lack of mention of…
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Nigel Jones responds to the news that the government will calculate the true cost of delivering NHS dentistry. The decision of the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to conduct a survey and research project on the cost of running dental practices seems long overdue given the arguments that have raged in recent years…
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As dentists in Wales are asked for their views on a new NHS dental contract, Nigel Jones speaks to BDA Wales’ Lauren Harrhy to get her views. Nigel Jones (NJ): As someone who was on the negotiation team in the tripartite negotiations with the Welsh Government and the NHS in Wales to try to develop…
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What does the practice sales market look like right now? Practice Plan director Nigel Jones spoke to Paul Graham, managing director of Christie & Co’s medical team, to find out more. Nigel Jones (NJ): I have to admit, Paul, one of my go-to publications and sources of market information is Christie & Co’s Dental Market…
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Nigel Jones discusses the mental health of the dental profession and how it can be improved with a focus on community and connection. It is undeniable that the mental health of too many people within the dental profession is poor. The Dental Protection survey of 1,300 dental professionals published earlier this year came out with…
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As the new financial year approaches, Nigel Jones encourages dental professionals to consider setting some resolutions for the future. April is fast approaching and with it, the opportunity for some new financial year’s resolutions. OK, I accept that might sound trite especially as the concept of resolutions lacks credibility in the eyes of many. However,…
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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…
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Nigel Jones explains why the current dental climate has opened up a world of opportunity, particularly for first-time buyers. As ever, the most recent Christie & Co Dental Market Review makes for a fascinating read and points to a bright future for dentistry in the UK. Of course, you could be forgiven for thinking ‘well…
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Nigel Jones explains why the workforce crisis should be the first item on the new government’s dental agenda. As our new government gets to grips with NHS dentistry, I sincerely hope they are giving appropriate thought to the workforce issue. I believe that single issue, more than any other, is driving change in the UK…
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Practice Plan sales and marketing director Nigel Jones caught up with BDA chair Eddie Crouch to get his take on the prospects for NHS dentistry. Nigel Jones (NJ): Eddie, I see there have been 1,200 media appearances and 8,000 mentions in local press post-pandemic. They’re impressive stats! I’ve been working with the profession for over…
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Nigel Jones discusses the mental health and wellbeing challenges that more and more dental professionals are facing, and how to find help if you need it. For whatever deep-rooted reason, I have always felt my purpose in life is to help make people happier and more confident. Work or social, a one-off meeting or a…
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Nigel Jones weighs up the pros and cons of the recently announced dental recovery plan – does it represent real reform or an attempt by the government to appear in control? The publication of the government’s dental recovery plan (DRP) has at least sparked off considerable debate about how NHS dentistry in England got into…
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Christie & Co associate director Steve O’Connor speaks to Practice Plan’s Nigel Jones about the varied picture of the practice sales market in 2023. To borrow a football analogy, last year was a year of two halves for the practice sales market. After a slow first half of 2023, there was an uptick in activity and…
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What does the future have in store for private dentistry? Nigel Jones considers recent trends and changes in UK dentistry to answer the question of what comes next. I feel obliged to state that these observations are entirely my own. No crystal balls or runes were consulted in the writing of this piece. It goes…
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‘Not just a rollercoaster year, this time it’s Blackpool’s The Big One!’ – Practice Plan’s Nigel Jones and BDA chair Eddie Crouch reflect on the events of 2023. Highs and lows Eddie Crouch (EC): There were some real highs this year followed very shortly afterwards by some significant lows. We fought long and hard to…
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