Tightening up your game: dental lessons from the FIFA World Cup

Chris Nicholson explores the parallel between the FIFA World Cup tournament and dental practices thinking about stepping away from the NHS.

As the World Cup gets underway, it’s a good reminder that success at the highest level of football is something that requires preparation and planning. The teams that go deep into the tournament have been building towards it for years.

When it comes to success in football, the strongest teams will have figured many of the important things out long before the kick-off. The tough calls such as investing in the right players, refining their system, and being clear on how they want to play will all have been sorted well in advance so that, by the time the referee blows his whistle they’re prepared and putting all of that into action.

It’s not too much of a stretch to say that for many dental practice owners, the situation for them isn’t too different. Rising costs, ongoing recruitment challenges and the limitations of the NHS contract are putting increasing pressure on the model. At a certain point, it stops being about short-term fixes and becomes a bigger question: is this still the right direction long term?

That’s when taking stock becomes essential. Just as a manager would be looking at their squad before a major tournament, practice owners need a clear, honest view of where they are now regarding their finances, how they are coping operationally and their team capacity and morale. They also need to decide where they want to be in a few years’ time.

What can the FIFA World Cup teach us in dentistry?

Building a successful team takes time. They need to learn the system their manager wants to employ. That’s something that always works better if they understand why they’re being asked to do things in a particular way. Likewise, moving away from the NHS isn’t something that works well as a sudden shift. The team and patients need time to adjust.

The practices that handle it best tend to treat it as a transition rather than an instant switch. They plan it properly, phase changes in, bring their team with them, and give patients time to understand what’s happening. It’s more measured, but it’s also far more sustainable.

That same idea applies when it comes to planning the next phase of a practice. As well as deciding whether to move away from the NHS, there’s a need to understand what that move will look like in practice. That will entail taking a proper in-depth look at your patient base, your numbers, and where the real opportunities are. The greater the clarity at this stage, the easier it is to make decisions that hold up over time.

Make sure you have support

Support matters too, and this is where many practices either gain momentum or lose it. Behind every successful football team is a lot of work that never gets seen. The so-called ‘backroom staff’ of coaches, analysts, physios and other medical staff. These people are all focused on making sure the conditions are right so the players can perform when it counts.

A conversion from NHS to private dentistry is no different. Whether you’re thinking about introducing a membership plan, adopting a mixed model, or making a full move to private, having the right guidance can make a huge difference to your success. Having support in place helps shape your planning, how you bring your team on board, how you communicate with patients, and the confidence you will feel about the whole process. Ultimately, this one decision will shape the whole future of your business.

Preparing a firm foundation for the future

The most successful teams are built to perform consistently rather than simply to win one match. Generally, they have a clear identity, a system that works, and the flexibility to adapt when things change. That’s what practice owners should be aiming for too.

You’re aiming to do more than simply survive the current pressures. This is all about building something more stable, profitable and with a lower admin burden in the long term all while maintaining the quality of care.

There’s no single route from NHS to private. As each practice is unique, they will approach it slightly differently, depending on their patients, team and long-term goals. However, the common thread is preparation.

The practices that get the best results are usually the ones that take the time to think it through properly, rather than reacting under pressure or leaving decisions until they have no choice. That’s the important takeaway here.

Success, whether in football or in business, rarely comes from last-minute changes, although, as in practice, there is often a need for substitutions. However, with planning, having a clear direction, making considered decisions, and backing yourself to follow them through most scenarios can be covered.

Consider your options

If you’re starting to question what the future looks like for your practice, it might be time to take that first step and look at your options properly.

There’s never been a safer time to leave NHS dentistry. If you’re considering your options away from the NHS and are looking for a plan provider who will hold your hand through the process at a pace that’s right for you, you’re in safe hands with Practice Plan.

You can start the conversation today by calling 01691 684165 or booking your one-to-one NHS to private conversation at a date and time that suits you, just visit practiceplan.co.uk/nhsvirtual.

This article is sponsored by Practice Plan.