This week sees news that two buy-to-let-property development millionaires plan to open a series of drive-in dental centres close to motorway junctions around the UK. Having seen the growth of dental tourism in the UK, they have decided to bring overseas dentists to the British patient, offering prices for dental treatment which will be competitive with those in countries such as Poland and Hungary.They plan to set up a national chain charging the same or less than NHS clinics. Thie service will be staffed by dentists from Eastern Europe who will receive free housing but will only get salaries in line with what they would earn back in Eastern Europe.
Whether this idea will get off the ground remains to be seen. Will they be able to find overseas dentists who are prepared to work at Eastern Europe salary rates when they are based in the UK? How will they attract the best overseas dentists to work at these rates? And how will they select the dentists?
If it works....perhaps we'll see the UK becoming a dental tourism destination?
3 comments:
This seems like one of those ideas that look good on paper, but the practicalities just haven't been thought through...
I work several dentists in Poland. Patients from the United Kingdom fly out to them because they have a good reputation and an established practice in Poland.
It is extremely unlikely that the dentists that I work with would consider moving to the United Kingdom: They have built up an established practice and would not be keen to relocate, especially if they have a family – why would they want to give that up to go and work in a faceless drive-thru?
It is very wrong to assume that everyone in Poland wants to leave for a new life in the United Kingdom.
The speed at which Dental Tourism is developing is worrying as on the front of the glossy ad's and modern contemporary clinics that always impress the tourist patient there is a the huge problem that none of these are regulated. What happens if you have a problem? are not satisfied with the result? is there anywhere to turn? You will soon find out that there are no promises or patient satisfaction.
This project if it does take off could bridge the gap of flying of to Eastern European destinations in 'holiday mode' and be more realistic of the treatments and results expected and if one did have to re-visit if they had a problem afterwards it'd be free of charge or more clear cut than the holiday clinics abroad.
Dental tourism overseas may be sometime a way to save money so its not always the way to get treatment in ones country.
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