#272 Straight Talker — Simon Thackeray

Dental Leaders Podcast

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.