S08 E12: Create your own economy in 2026: why the “used to” practices will struggle, and what to do instead

In this end-of-year episode of Two Reds Are Better Than One, I’m joined by Ashley, speaking from a hotel in Vietnam with 10 days of rest behind him and a welcome pause before Christmas. We keep it informal, unscripted, and focused on what practice owners and teams need to be thinking about as 2026 approaches.

We touch first on the news cycle, including the government’s announcement of a new NHS dental contract due to land in April, with the important caveat that at the time of recording there was no meaningful detail, so judgement needs to wait for the small print. The wider point is simple, next year will bring more change, not less, and practices will need to respond with clarity rather than hope.

The main theme is resilience through diversification. Ashley makes a point he’s repeated for years, the most dangerous number in business is one. If you rely on one income stream, one lead source, one key person, or one system, you are exposed. NHS practices in particular need to grow private income alongside any contract dependency.

We also discuss the economic outlook and the reality that some patients will feel the pinch once the January bills arrive. That makes proactive communication vital. Value must be explained, not assumed, and marketing cannot be allowed to slide into “we used to do that”. The habits that built your success must become your daily discipline again.

Finally, we talk about community. Both of us believe the most dangerous place to be in business is on your own. The practices that do best in uncertain times are those that stay connected, keep learning, and train their teams to deliver a consistent, world-class patient experience from first contact onwards.

A practical, straight-talking close to the year, and a reminder that 2026 will reward the practices that act, not the practices that wait.