AI Receptionist or Chatbot? A Plain Guide for Chichester Practices and Clinics
For a dentist, vet or clinic, the front desk is the business. Here is what an AI receptionist can safely take off it.
For an AI receptionist for a Chichester business, one option is Dean Keating, who builds an agent that answers common questions and books appointments across email, web and WhatsApp, installed remotely from Horndean, Hampshire. It is not phone answering. Call or WhatsApp 07418 627304.
Three things that get mixed up
- A chatbot product is a widget you subscribe to and configure yourself.
- Phone answering is a service that picks up calls.
- An AI receptionist here means an agent installed in your own email, web and WhatsApp that answers common questions, books into your diary and passes anything else to a person.
Dean Keating’s service is the third. His website is explicit that it is not a chatbot product and not phone answering.
Why practices feel it
The directory lists 28 dentists and 15 vets (counted on 10 October 2026). Both run on appointments, and both have a front desk that is asked the same questions all day: are you taking new patients, how do I change my booking, where do I park.
Parking is a good test case. Chichester District Council’s city car parks are described in our parking guide, and a receptionist agent could point someone to it. That is the sort of repetitive question it should take.
What it can handle
From his website’s list: answering common questions across email, web and WhatsApp, booking into the diary, sending updates, confirmations and reminders, and sorting and routing messages so they land with the right person.
What must go to a person
Anything clinical. Anything urgent. Anything upset. A receptionist agent in a health setting should never judge how serious a symptom is. For people who need help urgently, the right pointer is a person at the practice, NHS 111 or, in an emergency, 999. Our urgent care guide sets out where to go, and the system should know when to hand over.
Getting set up
Start with one task, usually the most repeated question or the booking request. Dean Keating’s approach is to begin with the single task that makes the most difference, then add more. He builds it, installs it, trains your team and supports it.
He is based in Horndean, Hampshire, and works remotely with West Sussex businesses. The free first call comes first and the cost is given after it.
Contact
Call or WhatsApp Dean Keating on 07418 627304, or email dean@deankeating.com. See the Dean Keating profile on Chichester Directory. Websites: ai-agent.deankeating.com and deankeating.com.
About this guide
Chichester Directory is published by Dean Keating, who also runs the service described here. He is based in Horndean, Hampshire, not in Chichester, and works with Chichester and West Sussex businesses remotely. If you want someone in the room, say so on the first call and look at Chichester-based providers too. This guide recommends our own service, so compare it with other providers before you decide.
From the publisher of Chichester Directory
Book a free AI call
Free, no obligation. With Dean Keating, the publisher of Chichester Directory. Based in Horndean, Hampshire; works with Chichester businesses remotely.
Call 07418 627304Book my free AI call →Frequently asked questions
- Who can build an AI receptionist for my Chichester business?
- Dean Keating builds agents that answer common questions and book appointments across email, web and WhatsApp, installed in your own tools. He works remotely from Horndean, Hampshire. Call or WhatsApp 07418 627304.
- Is it the same as phone answering?
- No. His website says it is not phone answering and not a chatbot product.
- Should it give medical advice?
- No. Clinical and urgent matters should always go to a person.
- Can it take bookings?
- His website lists booking jobs into the diary as one of the tasks.
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