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?