Nigel Jones

Nigel Jones

Author at Dentistry Online

Strategy director at Practice Plan
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An opportunity lost – ring-fenced dental funding was just a pipe dream

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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Contract reform: a quiet revolution?

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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NHS Dentistry Select Committee Report – no time to waste

‘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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Prioritisation – is dentistry rocking your whole world?

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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What now for the NHS?

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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Government needs to act with purpose, not stealth

With the exodus from the NHS growing momentum, Nigel Jones explains why a move to private dentistry is ‘realistic and achievable’.  So, the deadline has passed for contributions to the Health and Social Care Committee’s inquiry into NHS dentistry. Even with the 3000-word limit per submission, I imagine there is a lot to sift through.…

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There’s no avoiding discomfort

Nigel Jones considers the word ‘depaysement’ and what this might mean in the context of dentistry.  Relatively recently, I’ve come across the French word ‘depaysement’.  Given it’s often described as untranslatable, the best I can offer after a few internet searches is to say it is a noun used to describe the weird feeling you…

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Practice Makes Perfect – the popularity of private practice during the cost of living crisis

Nigel Jones reflects on popularity of private practice and how it speaks volumes for how much the dental profession is valued. Since relocating to Keswick in the Lake District, I’ve learnt beyond all doubt not to rely on the weather forecast. It’s rarely accurate, although, on the plus side, the weather generally turns out to…

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Practice Makes Perfect – the point of no return for NHS dentistry?

Nigel Jones debates the current political climate and why oral health inequality should be a massive concern for us all. Another month and another sign that, if we’ve not already reached it, we are very rapidly approaching the point of no return for comprehensive NHS dentistry available to all. At the beginning of the year…

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Dentistry’s past, present and future with veteran Michael Watson – part two

Nigel Jones talks to stalwart of the profession, Michael Watson, about the future of the profession and his views on what NHS dentistry should look like. With an almost 60-year career in dentistry, there was a lot to talk about when I sat down to speak with Michael Watson about the profession’s past, present and future.…

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Dentistry’s past, present and future with veteran Michael Watson – part one

Nigel Jones talks to stalwart of the profession, Michael Watson about dentistry’s defining moments and what he thinks the future will look like, compared to how it should. After a career spanning nearly six decades and roles in the clinical, political and editorial arenas of dentistry, Michael Watson is a well-known figure to many in…

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Practice Makes Perfect – is there a way to stop the collapse of NHS dentistry?

Nigel Jones considers the current climate in UK dentistry and how he believes demand for private dentistry will outstrip supply for some time to come. The contrast between the morale of, predominantly private dentists, and those working largely with the NHS has never been more stark than it is now. That was my over-riding feeling…


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