Bournemouth boy told to wait for braces as a result of spending cuts
A teenage boy from Bournemouth has been told he must wait at least a year for braces after it was revealed that there was no money left to pay for his treatment.
Sam Harvell, 13, was all ready to start his course of treatment following examinations and preparatory consultations at Christchurch Orthodontics; however, he has now been told that he must wait at least twelve months for the braces, as there was no money available to pay for the treatment.
Sam’s father, Clifford Harvell, said that his son was very disappointed and claimed that the situation had been handled poorly. Mr Harvell said that he was aware of national spending cuts but questioned the sense of cutting treatment for children; he claimed that cuts of this kind would contribute to higher costs in the future.
Christchurch Orthodontics said that they have to provide treatment based on the amount of funding they receive; once they know how much money they have, they can then prioritise patients.
Currently, more than 1,500 patients require braces in the Dorset area; consequently, it appears that many other people will be affected by spending cuts. Private orthodontic treatment costs around £2000 to £3000.
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