PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT NO . 5
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT NO . 5
cost deal elsewhere , your present bank may be the most likely to extend borrowing as you ’ ll have a track record . Do you want the convenience of being able to view your personal account and cards and business account and cards in the same place ? That ’ s something that the NatWest online and mobile apps offer .
And what of security ? With the likes of HSBC and First Direct moving towards voice recognition security , the topic is undergoing much change . HSBC still use a fob-type device to logon which just adds bulk to a pocket . On the convenience front , RBS and NatWest use a text message process for first time authentication on smartphone , but after that use a PIN and finger print ( on iPhone ) for security when logging on ( both still rely on a calculator style device and card for new transactions ).
There is no perfect solution , but you need to find a bank and process that won ’ t irritate you .
With an eye to working with your accounts software – and accountant – ensure that the formats in which the banks allow you to download reports are compatible with any software that you use . And apart from incompatibility it ’ ll be the simple things such as debits and credits columns being in the wrong order that will cause stress and eye-strain .
Unlike personal accounts , as noted earlier , very few business accounts pay interest . There ’ s no quid pro quo here so leaving large balances in a current account is futile ; you should plan to sweep excess cash into some form of saving account . Obviously , rates can change and the higher the rate the longer the notice period so when chasing the higher rates ensure that it ’ s with cash that isn ’ t needed as working capital . For example , at the time of writing , Aldermore offer up to 1.75 % on a 60-day to 5-year notice period account . Those wanting instant notice access should consider Aldermore ’ s Easy Access Business Savings Account which pays 0.85 % or Nationwide ’ s Business Instant Saver which pays 0.55 %. Neither are great but it ’ s better than nothing .
Splitting your banking requirements up between different providers may work with other elements of borrowing including commercial mortgages and credit cards . There are a number of websites that may offer assistance including
• http :// moneyfacts . co . uk / business ,
• http :// www . moneysupermarket . com / business-finance ,
• and http :// www . moneysavingexpert . com / banking / small-business .
TO CONCLUDE Just because you ’ re running a dental practice doesn ’ t mean you shouldn ’ t shop around for the best deal . For the best chance of success , you need to invest time and keep a weather eye out on the market . If your circumstances change or the bank changes its tariff you need to be prepared to move .
ADAM BERNSTEIN LIMITED E : adam @ adambernstein . co . uk W : www . adambernstein . co . uk
DENTISTS CALL FOR GEAR CHANGE IN NHS DENTISTRY IN WALES – TRIAL PILOTS PRAISED
� At the end of November , Eastside Dental ’ s Oral Health Educator Gail Burns and Principal Dentist Paul Ridgewell met the BDA ’ s Katrina Clarke and Angela Burns AM . The British Dental Association ( BDA ) has called for movement on stalled reforms to NHS dentistry in Wales , following a visit to a Swansea practice pioneering a new way of delivering dental services during the previous week .
Eastside Dental is one of the two ‘ prototype ’ practices , where dentists are rewarded for prevention , rather than for the number of fillings they carry out . It uses dental nurses , hygienists and educators alongside dentists to try and encourage patients to take greater responsibility for their oral health , and focuses on preventing dental disease rather than treating it .
NHS dentistry across Wales is based on meeting government targets for procedures like fillings and crowns . The current system , designed to improve access and focus on prevention , failed on its owns terms following its introduction in 2006 , receiving criticism from dentists , public health experts , main political parties , and the Chief Dental Officer for Wales . A new type of contract has been in development for five years ,
with eight practices testing out its initial version between 2011 and 2015 , and two of them moving on to trial the more advanced ‘ prototype ’ in April 2016 .
BDA Wales invited the Conservative health spokesperson Angela Burns AM to see the successful prototypes . She has joined BDA Wales in calling for these promising pilots to be rapidly expanded in communities across Wales , ahead of a potential national roll-out .
Katrina Clarke , Chair of BDA Wales General Dental Practice Committee , said ‘ We need NHS dentistry that puts patients and prevention first . The Welsh Government is leading the way on this , but after years in the pipeline , we need to see this crucial reform gain momentum . Despite the welcome recent improvements in oral health in Wales , our outcomes continue to lag behind England . Welsh patients cannot afford another five years of delays - NHS dentistry in Wales need to change gear now .”
Angela Burns AM , Conservative health spokesperson in the Welsh Assembly , said “ This practice is a perfect example of what can be done with vision and planning from a forward-thinking team . When I first walked in I found it hard to believe that we were visiting a NHS surgery in Swansea and not a private practice on Harley Street . The atmosphere from both staff and patients was superb and I must pay tribute to all the staff involved that make this practice such as success .
“ The team , who are superbly led by Paul Ridgewell , can only maintain this practice , however , if they get the support from the Welsh Government . I am delighted to see that this prototype , which rewards dentists for prevention and not on the amount of work that they carry out , has been such a success here . I urge the Minister to take a hard look at the success of this practice and roll out further trials to enable the whole ethos of NHS dentistry in Wales to change as soon as possible , and to ensure that welsh patients get the treatment that they deserve .”
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