Great interview with David Houston in The Probe about the future of dentistry after the Practice Plan NHS confidence Survey

1. A view of the future of NHS dentistry
Practice Plan and The Dentistry Show join forces again!
T
HE Probe: Almost half of dental
professionals working within the
NHS (44 per cent) are less confident
that the NHS will offer the right balance
of treatment versus prevention over the
next 12 months than they were a year
ago. How does this compare to your own
experience?
DH: I think that would mirror closely
the feeling of my associate colleagues,
because the uncertainty is what creates
the concern. If people had a pathway and
a model in place that they thought was
predictable and not subject to change I
think there would be a higher confidence
level.
The Probe: The survey indicates that
61 per cent of dentists are as confident
that their patients will be happy with the
outcome of attending an NHS practice
over the next 12 months as they were in
the previous 12 months. Do you agree?
DH: Yes, I do. Everyone has reached
a point where they can perform well
within the system, so it is a model that
works successfully for the vast majority
of practices. I don’t think patients will
perceive any changes unless their practice
is one of the prototypes, in which case
they will see a great deal of change as
practices reorganise their way of working
to meet the model’s requirements.
The Probe: The Confidence Monitor
reveals that 39 per cent of the respondents
asked are less confident about their career
prospects within NHS dentistry over the
next 12 months than they were a year ago.
What are your thoughts on this?
DH: I think principals see this as a period
of upheaval and uncertainty. If you are
trying to plan for the development of your
business - or even its survival - you would
like to know the challenges that lie ahead.
I presume and perceive that therapists
and hygienists may see the new contract
as an opportunity because it allows them
to become more valuable to the team.
So they may be enthusiastic about the
change, whereas associates may see that
as a danger to their role.
The Probe: The study reports that 65
per cent of practices consisting of up to
three dentists are losing confidence that
practising dentistry within the NHS will offer
an appropriate level of remuneration over
the next 12 months, which is considerably
higher than the percentage of respondents
across all practice sizes (54 per cent), who
felt the same. Why do you think this might
be?
DH: I think smaller practices are rightly
concerned about security, stability
and success if they are predominantly
dependent upon an NHS business model.
The ongoing costs of compliance will
presumably get higher, while government
cutbacks may make them feel the pinch.
The Probe: Does the level of admin/
regulation affect how dentists see their
future?
DH: Patient safety regulations are
welcomed by one and all, but some of the
paperwork may be seen as onerous and
possibly surplus to requirements by certain
practitioners. A percentage of practitioners
are giving up the role of principal in order
not to have to face up to regulatory
requirements because they’d rather go
back to their first love, which is clinical
care.
The Probe: Some suggest that by not
carefully defining what can and can’t be
offered by the NHS, dentists are able to
sell more private treatment and to cross
subsidise NHS care. Do you think that is
the case?
DH: This is a sensitive debate about
whether patients are able to give fully
informed consent. My understanding is that
the NHS regulations expect practitioners
to provide treatment that is clinically
necessary and appropriate. As long as that
option is fulfilled by the clinician offering the
treatment, I see no particular problem with
other options being mooted and the patient
being given the opportunity to choose for
themselves.
The Probe: What more could be done to
help the dental team make sense of the
contract reforms and their professional
future?
DH: I think the obvious answer to that
is better information from the regulators,
whose rules we will have to work to.
We can’t wait forever if we’re going to
plan. We need some notice and some
opportunity to be ready for that change.
The Probe: Where do you see your
practice in 12 months’ time? What will
influence this?
DH: I have thoroughly enjoyed the
challenge of bringing new services into
our business and would welcome the
opportunity to continue to broaden our
offering, even if that was what some
members of the profession may deem as
non-dental.
We would like to provide more teaching
and training for colleagues by giving them
access to our own specialists, who are
happy to share their knowledge.
I also see us as a more rounded practice
providing primary care linked to secondary
care for a broad demographic across the
area in which we work, potentially acquiring
other smaller practices that are struggling
with regulation. This will allow them to
concentrate on what they are good at and
enjoy, which is the clinical dentistry, which
then gives back to the patients and the
community at large. n
The NHS Confidence Monitor has been
commissioned by Practice Plan to
understand the profession’s confidence
levels in the future of dentistry. The survey
compromised of 80 telephone interviews
with a range of practices offering NHS
treatments to adult patients and covered:
• Dentists’ future career prospects
• Getting the balance of treatment versus
prevention within the NHS right
• Remuneration levels
• The ability of the team to work effectively
within the NHS
• Whether patients will be happy with level
of care provided.
To view the full results and join the debate,
see www.NHSDentistryInsights.co.uk.
Practice Plan and The Dentistry Show are once again teaming up to bring
The Business Skills Workshop Theatre back to this year’s show!
Following publication of the independent NHS
Confidence Monitor Survey commissioned by Practice
Plan, and the much-anticipated meeting of the Insights
Panel to discuss the results, The Probe caught up with
DR DAVID HOUSTON to get his views on the future of
dentistry...
About David Houston
Dr David Houston is
the joint principal of the
Houston Group of dental
practices, offering both
NHS and private treatment.
68|MARKET FOCUS
The Probe | April 15 dentalrepublic.co.uk
Smaller practices are
rightly concerned about
security, stability and success
if they are predominantly
dependent upon an NHS
business model.
‘
’
T
HE Business Skills Workshop Theatre
returns bigger than ever this year,
with an increased capacity and a
line-up of industry heavyweight speakers –
including Chris Barrow, Ashley Latter, Sheila
Scott, Les Jones, Brendon Macdonald,
Krishan Joshi and Pat Langley – ready
to share their insightful knowledge and
business advice to help your business grow!
Sarah Whittall, events and marketing
coordinator at Practice Plan, asked Chris
Brown, event director at The Dentistry
Show, to give you an insight into what,
alongside The Business Skills Workshop
Theatre, you can expect from the show.
SW: With the show nearly upon us, how
are things with you Chris?
CB: I’m great! It’s the most exciting time of
the year for me as we put the final touches
together for The Dentistry Show 2015.
SW: What are you most looking forward to
at this year’s Dentistry Show?
CB: Now that we’ve moved the show
to April, we’re taking place after The
International Dental Show in Cologne which
means that The Dentistry Show will be
the first chance for people to see the very
latest dental equipment and materials on
display. Now that’s exciting!
SW: What do you think will be the
highlight(s) of this year’s show?
CB: I’ve seen a few of the stand designs
and can tell you that some exhibitors have
really pulled out the stops this year – to
have a hall with 400 exhibitors is amazing,
but to have over half of them building their
own stands really makes a difference. We
also have four hands-on workshops this
year, featuring sessions hosted by some
A-list speakers. Not forgetting the Practice
Plan Business Skills Workshop Theatre
which is back again. After last year’s
success and the incredible demand for
seats, we’ve built the theatre even bigger
so that’s definitely one not to miss.
SW: Finally, why is this year’s show a
must-attend?
CB: The speaker line-up is just so good
– and it’s still free to attend. There is so
much for delegates to access and there
really is something for everyone, from the
latest innovations to free CPD! n
The Dentistry Show takes place on 17
and 18 April at the NEC, Birmingham. For
more information on The Business Skills
Workshop Theatre programme, or to book
your place to see your chosen speaker in
action, visit www.practiceplan.co.uk/events