NHS to private dentistry

Frequently Asked Questions about NHS to Private Conversion

• How do I know if a move away from NHS dentistry is right for me?

  To determine if transitioning from NHS to private dentistry is the right choice for your dental practice, we’ll schedule a discovery meeting with one of our highly experienced Business Development team members. Whether you want to make a full dental practice or a clinician-led conversion, we will conduct a thorough viability analysis and financial forecasting exercise. We’ll explore and assess certain indicators and areas that are key to a successful transition. Additionally, we’ll delve into your long-term goals and objectives to better understand your vision.

  Ultimately, we ensure you have a clear idea of what the change and process are likely to look like and will always let you know if, for any reason, the transition is not advisable.

• How many patients will I need to keep on a dental plan or private basis?

  During our financial forecasting exercise, we will take information relating to your UDA’s (volume and value), how many hours per week each dental clinician works, your private fees, the number of fee-paying and exempt adult NHS patients you’ve seen in the last 24 months, as well as how many NHS children you see.

  Based on this data, our calculator tool will recommend an optimal membership plan structure and target the number of patients to have on a dental practice plan to replace your current NHS income. Importantly, we’ll ensure adequate time to deliver treatments alongside routine care. You’ll be pleasantly surprised to find that the number of patients you need to retain is often lower than expected.

• How much notice would I need to give to NHS England if I am going to surrender my NHS Contract?

  You must provide NHS England or your LAT (if in Wales) with a three-month notice, which must be submitted in writing. While things differ under the Scottish contract, we will clarify the optimal approach.

• How do I inform my NHS patients of the changes?

  We will handle the patient communication process on your behalf,  under your practice branding. Our team has developed tried-and-tested letter templates that will notify your patients of the upcoming changes. These letters provide a three-month notice period and clearly explain a patients’ options, making it as easy as possible for them to join one of your dental practice plans.

  The letter can be tailored,  allowing you to express your reasons and rationale for the change. Enclosed with the letter are promotional leaflets that comprehensively explain your plan offerings for both adults and children. Along with a Direct Debit mandate, which patients will need to complete and return to join your dental practice plan. We’ll also include a QR code in the letter, allowing patients to join online from the comfort of their homes.

• How do I get my team on board? As they may be concerned about how patients will react to the changes.

  We will organise a training session to ensure your team is fully prepared, trained, and engaged with the upcoming changes. The training will cover the rationale for the change unique to your dental practice and the potential patient questions or objections, equipping your team with effective responses.

• I would like to keep children on an NHS contract – am I likely to get a children-only contract?

  Securing a children’s only NHS contract would require discussions with NHS England or NHS Wales area teams. In our experience, obtaining such a contract is unlikely, as practices are encouraged to offer equitable services without cherry-picking patients based on age.

• If I cannot secure a children's NHS contract, what recommendations do you have for me to continue providing care for children in the future?

  We can offer guidance on setting up plans for children. You can start plan membership from a specific age, and may opt to offer free-of-charge preventative care for much younger children.

• What support would I get from Patient Plan Direct?

  Our team will be by your side throughout the entire process, from the initial planning steps to training your team and being there once the news is communicated to patients. When letters are sent to patients, one or more of our team will be onsite at your dental practice in the early stages to help and support where necessary. We’re committed to ongoing support, including regular review meetings and team training, as and when required.

• Is it possible for just one of our dentists to go private?

  Yes, it’s possible for one (or more) dentists to initiate a ‘partial or clinician-led conversion’, retaining your NHS contract. This often involves the Principal or the longer-serving clinicians transitioning to private practice while other dentists continue seeing NHS patients. However, this type of conversion requires careful planning to explain the situation to patients and manage their expectations. It is less popular these days for various reasons, which our Business Development team can explain during an exploratory meeting.

• Will I have a ‘cashflow dip’ during the conversion period, and how long will things take to settle down?

  During the transition period, it’s important to note that you must give patients and NHS England or the Welsh Health Board three-months notice to terminate your contract. Your usual NHS income will continue during this notice period. Afterward, you’ll start receiving a regular, guaranteed monthly income from your plan members and private treatment fees. The speed at which private income becomes significant depends on diary planning and the confidence of your clinicians in prescribing private treatments and discussing fees. Your Business Development Manager will provide detailed guidance on this matter. We also recommend informing your bank and accountant of the changes you are making in the practice.

• Do you support dental practices in Scotland who are looking to convert?

  When running a viability report for a practice in Scotland, we take all the following into account:

  • The gross earnings for the clinician or practice seen from NHS delivery (with items of service) in the last 12 months
  • Any private income generated from upgrades to treatment from patients registered under the NHS
  • Any general practice allowance, rent rebates or other financial support seen from NHS Scotland
  • Any other relevant income that may be specific to the NHS contract/practice that needs to be replaced as part of the conversion

   

  We support the practice/clinician to ensure notice of deregistration is given to patients to ensure they fulfil the requirements of the NHS income.

  As Scottish practices are only paid for what they deliver, it is easier to support partial conversions where practices may still wish to see children under the NHS. This can often be a useful middle ground for parents and optimises the dental plan uptake for adult patients.

  We work with the practice to ensure all income seen from the NHS, in its various forms, is accounted for in the initial viability assessments, and we also support practices to ensure they fulfil any contractual requirements – such as notice of deregistration – to prevent any unnecessary delay/fall out to the conversion process.