Budget shocks and dead cats: What next for dental business owners?

Join the Lockdown Superheroes for live answers on Budget impact, pay, pricing, goodwill and the CMA probe

Given the degree of preparation for bad news that we have been fed by both the Government and the media, it seemed obvious to me that, like a team of retired Marvel super-heroes, we should recall some of the former panelists (and maybe some new faces) to discuss and answer your questions on how next week's Budget will affect us.

So next Thursday evening (27th) at 19:00, we will meet again - and welcome your questions from the start, on any subject related to the business of dentistry:

• How do we adjust our financial projections?

• Will it affect pay (for the team/clinicians) and prices?

• Will the goodwill value of practices be altered?

• Are our pre-Christmas marketing plans trashed?

• What do we say to patients?

• How do we lead our teams?

And much more.

Oh - and then there's the announcement that Rachel Reeves has commissioned a CMA enquiry in to the pricing of private dentistry?

It is, of course, the ultimate "dead-catting" political manoeuvre, described by no less than Boris Johnson back in 2013 (see below).

While we are at it next week, we may as well have a chat about that as well - and what we, as an industry, need to do as and when the "price police" come knocking on the door.

This weekend, I'll be busy re-activating those "Lockdown Superheroes" we all came to know and love back in 2020 - and on Monday I'll let you know who will be with us.

For now - register below - it's free, no salesperson will call, there will be no presentations on the night, just what promises as always to be a rigorous debate of immediate relevance to us all.

Thursday, 19:00 until 20:30, no break to applaud the NHS this time - just straight through with tough questions and wicked answers.

Register NOW here - https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/lHqqh1H-RAmpN5zTvIxAlA#/registration

PLEASE SHARE THIS POST - LET'S GET AS MANY PEOPLE ON THIS CALL AS POSSIBLE.

And, just in case you were interested - here's Boris:

"To understand what has happened in Europe in the last week, we must borrow from the rich and fruity vocabulary of Australian political analysis. Let us suppose you are losing an argument. The facts are overwhelmingly against you, and the more people focus on the reality the worse it is for you and your case. Your best bet in these circumstances is to perform a manoeuvre that a great campaigner describes as "throwing a dead cat on the table, mate".

That is because there is one thing that is absolutely certain about throwing a dead cat on the dining room table – and I don't mean that people will be outraged, alarmed, disgusted. That is true, but irrelevant. The key point, says my Australian friend, is that everyone will shout "Jeez, mate, there's a dead cat on the table!"; in other words they will be talking about the dead cat, the thing you want them to talk about, and they will not be talking about the issue that has been causing you so much grief."