Staff turnover is exceptionally high, particularly among nursing teams, creating a constant cycle of recruitment and training. Due to poor pay, qualified nurses are difficult to retain, leaving dentists to undertake much of the training themselves.
Dentist morale has declined significantly. Underutilised appointment books, inconsistent patient allocation, and pressure to accommodate long-lapsed patients have led many clinicians to reduce their working hours.
Responsibilities previously managed effectively at practice level have been centralised, with poorer outcomes. Payroll issues affecting dentists remains a recurring problem.
The company continues to invest in additional surgery space in practices that are not even operating at full capacity, raising questions about priorities. Practice managers expected to work without suitable office space, either at reception or in a cupboard.
Support from operational leadership is inadequate, with communication and people-management skills completely lacking.
Responsiveness to maintenance and H&S issues is poor, with concerns often subject to temporary fixes rather than lasting solutions.
Although the organisation promotes values such as integrity and transparency, employees feel there is a significant gap between these stated values and their day-to-day experience.