Suki Singh looks at what you can do if you’re not sure whether a move from the NHS to private dentistry is the right one for you.
Like many dentists, you may be in a position right now where the idea of moving to private dentistry has passed through your mind on more than one occasion. You might be unhappy with your NHS contract, and you want to start thinking about alternative futures, however, you’re not sure whether it is 100 per cent what you want.
If you’re in that position, the best thing you can do is put everything on the table, sit back and look at the bigger picture. A good way to do that is through a technique I recently came across that has been designed by GuruYou coach Rebecca Mander.
It includes five different parts, and these parts are made up of elements such as what you need to consider about the decision, what the best and worst outcomes could be from making the move and what information you require.
Before looking at the five points, you need to think about the decision. What decision are you actually making, and what’s involved in it? So, in this case, the move is converting away from the NHS, and it involves leaving behind part or all of that NHS contract and moving to a private setting.
When you’ve done that, here are Rebecca’s five points that will help you in making your decision.
The admirer
The next part to consider is the admirer; this is someone who admires you. It’s important in this part to think about why they admire you; what strengths do they see in you? What words of encouragement would they give you when it comes to making the decision to go from NHS to private?
The inspirer
The inspirer, by its name, is someone who inspires you. Think about what they would do in your position. Would they take the leap and go in search of a brighter future in private dentistry?
The firer
This section is all about the worst. Think about what the worst thing that could happen if you stayed in the NHS is and the worst thing that could happen if you move to private, and then look at the likelihood of those situations occurring.
The hirer
This part is the opposite to the firer and is all about the best thing that can happen. Think about what is the best thing that can happen from making the move, and what is the best that can happen if you don’t? What option excites you and has the most positives? Which one gives you a better work life balance and is likely to help you achieve your personal goals?
The enquirer
And the final part is the enquirer, arguably the most important section. This is around who and what you need to know in order to move forward with your choice, and this is where Practice Plan could come in. It could be someone who has already made the move, or it could be us; the people who can help you understand what you need to know to make an informed decision about moving from NHS to private.
This five-point technique is really useful in helping you to decide whether to move forward and start making more in depth enquiries into making the move to private.