#272 Straight Talker — Simon Thackeray
Episode description
Dentist and legal expert Simon Thackeray discusses his route from NHS to private practice, his involvement in dental politics, and his role as a founder member of BAPD (British Association of Private Dentistry).
He offers valuable insights into the challenges faced by private dentists during COVID-19 and shares candid thoughts about the profession's future direction.
The discussion covers everything from practice management and patient care to broader societal issues affecting dentistry.
In This Episode
02:00 - Backstory
03:35 - BAPD formation
07:45 - COVID - international approaches
13:35 - NHS dentistry
21:25 - Class and social mobility
31:30 - Legislation and governance
42:10 - Young dentists and private practice
52:15 - Career and practice ownership
54:35 - From NHS to private practice
1:14:00 - Commoditisation and ethics
1:21:45 - Education and public messaging
1:26:35 - Blackbox thinking
1:32:00 - Closing questions
About Simon Thackeray
Simon Thackeray is a prominent private dentist based in Mansfield who holds a master's degree in law and serves as a founder member of the British Association of Private Dentists (BAPD), which he helped establish during the COVID-19 pandemic. After qualifying in 1991, he worked in several NHS practices before purchasing his own practice and transitioning to fully private care in 2006.