#33 - Dental Leaders Bulletin - Business Interruption Insurance & the Imminent Return to Practice with Laith Abbas & Luke Thorley

Many dentists feel they have been let down during the coronavirus crisis. Professional bodies were slow to speak up, delivering an ineffectual message to members when they finally did so.

 

The profession has not benefited from the government’s package of financial support for small businesses and insurers have proved that policies aren’t always worth the PDFs they’re written on.

 

This week, we meet Laith Abbas and Luke Thorley - two relative youngsters who are fighting back.

 

They reveal why they are leading a legal action against insurers and discuss how the crisis has been a catalyst for grassroots action with the formation of a new professional body representing private practices. 

 

“[Coronavirus] is going to completely flip the whole landscape of dentistry. I don't think people quite realise that yet, because our attention at the moment is getting back to work. I can guarantee you, a year today, we are going to look back and think, "I can't believe how much has changed."

• Laith Abbas

 

In this Episode

 

01.25 - Business interruption legal action

21.22 - The British Association of Private Dentistry (BAPD)

28.57 - COVID safety and returning to work

39.34 - On regulators

52.14 - BAPD vision for NHS treatment

 

About Laith Abbas and Luke Thorley

 

Laith Abbas is principal dentist and co-owner of Crouch Hall Dental Care. Luke Thorley is practice principal at Royal Wharf Dental in london.

 

The pair have been consistently outspoken about dental insurers’ response to the coronavirus crisis. They are leading a legal action against insurers which could involve more than 2000 UK dentists.