'Chemo wrecked my teeth, I can't afford treatment'

BBC News reporters Leigh Boobyer and Jeremy Stern reported on the concerning state of dental care in the UK, as described by Faye Woodley. Woodley, who suffered from cancer treatment that severely affected her teeth, voiced her frustration with the lack of accessible and affordable dental treatment. She expressed her dismay, stating that the current situation feels reminiscent of a time when only the wealthy could afford proper dental care, leaving the rest to suffer.

Woodley shared her personal struggles, revealing that she had lost multiple teeth and required expensive treatment that she could not afford due to her chronic illness preventing her from working. The implications of her chemotherapy for breast cancer had left her with significant dental issues, including chipped teeth and the inability to eat solid food. The lack of financial means to address her dental problems has left Woodley in constant pain and discomfort.

Despite being an NHS patient at Hathaway Dental Practice in Chippenham, Woodley found herself unable to access NHS treatment after the practice transitioned to private care. The practice director, Keith Garber, explained that the decision to go private was necessitated by the difficulty in recruiting NHS dentists. The Department for Health and Social Care mentioned that urgent and emergency appointments have been provided, and reforms are underway to ensure that NHS-trained dentists contribute to public healthcare for a minimum period. The government is currently seeking public input through a consultation on the proposed reforms

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