Self-employment and football: why you cannot play rugby on a football pitch

Associates and Young dentists, Dental Practice management and Growth, Dental Teams, Dental Thinking, Female Principals, Leadership, Practice Managers, Principals

Being self-employed in the UK is often described as freedom, flexibility, and control. But it only works when everyone understands the rules of the game. Using the analogy of football, this article explains why self-employment has clear benefits and equally clear responsibilities, how HMRC acts as referee and VAR, and why clauses in self-employed agreements are not punitive but protective. If you are a clinician or practice owner navigating self-employed status, this piece will help you understand why you cannot play rugby on a football pitch and expect the game to work.

Failed to Attend and Late Cancellations: Are We Asking the Wrong Question?

Associates and Young dentists, Communication, Dental Practice management and Growth, Dental Thinking, Female Principals, Leadership, Practice Managers, Principals

When a patient fails to attend or cancels late, the question we often ask is who should be paid. But what if that is not the most useful question. Missed appointments are a form of non-verbal communication. If we listen more carefully to what patients are telling us through their behaviour, we may find better answers and fewer empty chairs.