#272 Straight Talker — Simon Thackeray

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.