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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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Addressing the barriers to patient attendance while encouraging the continued attendance of those already engaged in their own oral health should be a priority, says Nigel Jones. Reports from the Health Service Journal (HSJ) suggest that the oft referenced ring-fencing of dental budgets within the wider financial resources available to the Integrated Care Boards (ICBs)…
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Nigel Jones wonders what the future holds for NHS dental contract reform – are we soon to see an NHS recovery plan? As the Parliamentary summer recess comes to a close, the debates about future NHS dental contractual arrangements in England are certain to resume in earnest. And, if they haven’t already, should result in some…
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‘They are in for a rude awakening’ – Nigel Jones shares his thoughts on the NHS Dentistry Select Committee Report. As expected, the report arising from the Health and Social Care Committee’s inquiry has reconfirmed the diagnosis of the problems facing NHS dentistry in England. This gives an indication of the scale of the challenge. Given…
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Nigel Jones discusses a well-known prioritisation metaphor – find out if you need to get your own rocks in order. Although it came out a couple of years ago, I’ve only just discovered the book 4000 Weeks by Oliver Burkeman. What a thought provoking read it is proving to be! Subtitled ‘Time management for mortals’,…
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Nigel Jones considers the many options available in dentistry right now, and why investing some time and energy can get you on the right path to a successful and happy career. There was a sobering contribution to the recent BAPD webinar in which I was lucky enough to be a panellist. It came from a…
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Is there a future for NHS dentistry? Practice Plan’s sales and marketing director, Nigel Jones, offers his views following the recent Parliamentary Select Committee hearings. The Health and Social Care Select Committee hearings have, once again, thrown the spotlight on the state of NHS dentistry. This was prompted, in part, by the findings of the…
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Nigel Jones considers how more practices are viewing a departure from the NHS as a form of protest against what is happening to NHS dentistry. As someone who has spent three decades attending dental events, I can safely say it’s not often I have found myself discussing celestial mechanics with one of the delegates. And…
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In a recent Practice Plan webinar, sales and marketing director, Nigel Jones, spoke to chair of the BDA, Eddie Crouch, about his hopes for NHS dentistry in 2023. It’s a new year and we’ve got a new inquiry, Eddie. And I wonder whether that means there’s new hope for NHS dentistry. So, how optimistic are…
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During Practice Plan’s recent webinar, sales and marketing director, Nigel Jones, spoke to BDA chair, Eddie Crouch to get his views on NHS dentistry and its future. We have a fundamental problem of an ageing population that will have increasing health needs. We are going to have a lot more retired people and fewer taxpayers.…
