As a new immigrant I have to do all the boring bureaucratic chores necessary when leaving one country and setting up home in another.  So, yesterday I registered with a new dentist.

And what a pleasant experience it was too! No hanging around in a grubby waiting room while the receptionists gossip about their social life, or last night's episode of "Eastenders", while paying not the slightest attention to the patient. Not a bit of it. As soon as I arrived I was offered a drink and a very comfortable seat to sit on while filling in the registration documents. Within ten minutes Dr Rex Hoang ushered me in and examined my teeth, made notes, gave me advice and for organised an X ray to be done. 

As I left, the receptionist proffered me some "Introductory Tokens". She explained that, for each new patient I introduced to the practice, these tokens would be redeemable against any costs of my future treatments! Interesting concept to someone acquainted with NHS ways!

Easy! And that was it. Or so I thought. But oh no it wasn't!

Today I logged onto my computer to find an email from Dr Hoang's practice asking me to fill in a "Customer Satisfaction Survey". 

It was great seeing you at your last appointment. Our mission is to provide you with the absolute best dental care possible. Your feedback is very important to us and we appreciate you taking a moment to help us enhance our service by filling out our short survey.

Crikey! I have never, ever, been asked to do anything like this in all my years of tangling with assorted NHS and private health care practitioners in the UK.

It sure makes me feel appreciated. Someone actually cares enough about his dental practice's service to ask his patients their opinion! 

Amazing. If this is the Free Market - then give me more of it.