If you’re a dental practice owner in Wales, there’s a good chance that recently, you’ve thought about stepping away from the NHS and going private. Whether or not you were feeling burnt out and unhappy before, the consultation on the proposed changes to the dental contract in Wales are likely to have made matters worse.
According to a recent online survey by BDA Wales of 176 general dental practitioners in Wales (fieldwork 5 May to 5 June 2025) about the Welsh Government’s consultation on reform of NHS dental services in Wales, 64% of respondents said they are likely to go fully private if the proposed model is introduced. In the same survey, 73% said they would reduce their NHS commitment if the new contract came in. On the question of whether they would be prepared to work under the proposed reforms as they stand, 72% said ‘no’. That sounds like a damning verdict on the proposals from the profession!
Why so negative?
Why have the proposals received such a resounding thumbs down from the profession in Wales? It appears that one of the main reforms suggested is the introduction of the Digital Access Portal (DAP), which would form a centralised waiting list for patients wanting to access an NHS appointment. Under the proposals, patients would no longer be able to book an appointment at their usual practice but rather would need to go via the DAP to be allocated one at the next available slot. This could be at any practice within the Health Board area, regardless of proximity to the patient.
This means NHS practices will no longer have their own patient base. Aside from the potential issues with travel this may cause, it also rides roughshod through the concept of continuity of care. Once a patient is deemed dentally fit, they will need to return to the central waiting list. This means a dentally fit patient could feasibly be sent to a different practice every time they are due for an oral health examination and may never be seen at the same practice twice.
While this may appear to deal with the issue of access for patients, if dentists choose to vote on these proposals with their feet, there will be fewer practices to which patients could be allocated possibly resulting in very long waits for recall appointments.
What are the options?
Most dentists want to provide a good level of care to a particular cohort of patients. Dentistry is a personal service and so building a relationship based on trust is essential. Trust comes from developing rapport which takes time. The terms of the proposed new contract leave no scope for developing relationships with patients at all as, in theory, they could see a different practitioner every time they receive an appointment.
Most dentists converting to private dentistry tell us they want to be able to spend more time with their patients. Should the Welsh Government choose to enact these proposals then the only chance dentists have of building a patient base to call their own is by becoming a private dentist.
If you are one of the many dentists who feel these proposals are nudging you toward a change, then you’re likely to be looking for some support. We know that making the move to private dentistry is a big decision, which is why we’re here to offer a guiding hand along the way with our practical five-step plan that’s helped hundreds of practices make the move with confidence. You can read more about these steps in this handy booklet.
Here are the five steps.
First Things First: Is Now the Right Time?
Before taking any action, we’ll help you assess whether you and your practice are ready to go private.
Here are a few things we will look at to help you decide:
• Do your patients value you and your team enough to stick with you?
• Is your appointment book regularly full — with minimal cancellations or gaps?
• Is your team on board and ready for change?
• Does your local area have the kind of patient base that would support a private practice?
If these are getting a thumbs up, then that bodes well. If not, then it may just mean you might want to take a bit more time to strengthen things before making the leap. Even if everything looks great, it will be your decision to take things further. We will never pressure you.
2. Let’s Talk Numbers
If the timing is right, the next step is to have a good look at the business finances. This will help inform some of the things you need to figure out for replacing your NHS income.
You’ll want to understand:
• What hourly rate makes sense for your practice?
• How can you use a membership plan to give patients value and give you financial stability?
• What happens to your NHS pension — and how can you plan around that?
As we’ve said, we’ll be there to help with this. One of our highly experienced Regional Support Managers (RSMs) can walk you through it step by step. And it’s a good idea to start involving your team at this point too. When everyone understands the why, they’re more likely to get behind the how.
3. Informing your patients— the right way
How you communicate this change to your patients can make or break your transition. The goal isn’t to just tell them — it’s to reassure them.
It’s up to you how you choose to let your patients know about the change. Some of the most successful practices use a mix of:
• Personal conversations — during check-ups or treatments, where trust is already strong
• Follow-up letters or emails — something clear and thoughtful they can take away and read at their own pace.
Patients are more likely to stay with you if they understand what’s changing, why it’s changing, and what’s in it for them. Practice Plan can help equip your team with talking points, FAQs, and encourage them to adopt a calm, confident tone. The more united you sound, the more reassured patients will feel.
4. Your team is your best asset
The most successful transitions are the ones where the team is fully on board. After all, they’ll be the ones talking to patients, managing appointments, explaining membership plans, and generally keeping everything running smoothly.
That’s why our RSMs provide proper training and support during the transition. Think workshops, roleplay sessions, and one-to-one coaching if needed. When your team feels ready, your patients will feel reassured.
5. Going live — and beyond
When it comes to launch day, your designated RSM will be in practice (usually with lunch or biscuits, at least!) to make sure everything goes smoothly.
Launch day is just the beginning of your relationship with Practice Plan. We want your business to succeed. So, as well as your dedicated RSM, you’ll have a Relationship Support Advisor (RSA) based at head office you can call on for help if you need it. If you need an answer to a query or some advice, then support is only ever a phone call away.
As well as this, you have access to a programme of events, webinars and workshops delivered by industry leading speakers. You can also make use of our in-house marketing and design team as well as access to a library of blogs and articles and consultancy services.
We’re in it for the long haul. After all, your success is our success.
Final Thoughts
Leaving the NHS isn’t about abandoning your patients — it’s about choosing a different way to care for them, one that gives you more time, control, and energy. If you’re in Wales and thinking about making the move, take it one step at a time.
Ready to explore it further? Why not book a one-to-one chat with one of our trusted advisors. There’s no obligation to take things any further… unless you want to!