Back in 2006, Burton Family Dental in Burton-on-Trent made the decision to leave behind the NHS for a life in private dentistry with the help of Practice Plan. As partner and dentist, Catriona Archer explains how it is a move they have never regretted and one they will never go back on….
Making the move and choosing Practice Plan
We had reached a point where we just didn’t want to work under the time and treatment restrictions anymore, and we felt that after six years with the NHS it was the right time to go private. We could see a few changes to the contract were on the horizon and we didn’t want to remain in the NHS rat race. So, we looked into it and decided to press ahead with the move, and we haven’t looked back since. We looked at a number of providers, however, Practice Plan offered a system that was geared towards prevention and encouraging people to look after their teeth which leads to them having to pay less, and that was exactly what we were looking for. We’d also heard good things about Practice Plan from my brother, who’d made the transition with them too. He was full of praise for the way everything was handled and how beneficial it had been for him, which gave us confidence that we were doing the right thing for us and our patients.
‘On hand whenever we need them’
Josie Hutchings, our Regional Support Manager, was such a big help through the whole process of going private; from helping us with writing letters to our patients to even having the conversation with them about the move. She helped us explain the reasons why we were moving, and that was really important for us. Another key thing that Josie assisted us with was our pricing structure and advising us on what prices to charge, and she was just always there to make sure everything ran smoothly. We’ve always had a close relationship with her and we’ve met regularly with her over the years, even catching up online during the pandemic. The courses provided by Practice Plan, such as ones we’ve had on motivation, have always been really beneficial and gone down well with our staff. We still get as much support and benefit from Practice Plan now as we did when we first made the move. To this day, Josie is always there, on hand to support us whenever we need her.
Getting the patients on board
In the beginning, most patients made the move with us, which was fantastic, although we did have a few who decided to remain with the NHS. However, over the years they’ve slowly started to come back to us. We’ve seen a steady growth in our patient numbers, a lot of which has come through word of mouth, which we’re proud of because it shows we have a good reputation and patients want to come to us for their treatment. In recent months, we’ve had to create a waiting list because of the backlog created by Covid-19. With about 200 patients on that list, it’s been a lot to get through, but it’s nice to know that people want to come to us and want to join our practice.
How we have benefitted
Being in control of your own destiny allows you to run your practice as you want to and that has probably been the biggest plus for us. We’re able to evolve and make changes without having to wait for the go ahead from the NHS which has given us a lot more flexibility. There are also other benefits, such as spending more time with patients and offering extra treatments, which in turn helps to attract more patients. We’re also able to provide the treatments our patients want us to, which is something we simply wouldn’t have been able to do previously.
“We’d never go back”
I can honestly say that we’d never go back to the NHS, purely because everything has been so Catriona Archer: Partner & dentist – burton family dental 15 years on much better since we made the move. I qualified in 1989 and worked within the NHS until 2006. As a private practice, we get back what we put in and we have a better quality of life. It’s a big decision for practices to make; however, my advice would be to go for it. Demand for private dentistry is high and I’m seeing a lot of friends who are really struggling in the NHS, so it seems to me that right now is probably an ideal time to make the move.
Ready to talk?
We’ve spent years supporting private practices, so we’re not just experts when it comes to making the move away from the NHS. You can count on us to be there for the long-term. So, if you’re ready to start talking about a different future, why not talk to the NHS conversion experts.
We’re ready when you are…
You can learn more about how we can support you here, or simply give us a call on 01691 684165 or email us on info@practiceplan.co.uk
We also have no-obligation One-to-One virtual appointments available – find out more and book a slot here.
