Welsh Tories call for free dental care for cancer patients
The Welsh Tories are calling for free dental care for patients undergoing cancer treatment in Wales.
The Welsh Conservative Party lead a debate on the subject at a recent Senedd meeting following the publication of the Cancer Quality Statement.
Shadow health minister, Russell George, said that cancer services in Wales are trying to cope with a “tsunami of missed cancer diagnoses and the appearance of later stage cancers as a direct result of pausing NHS services during lockdowns.”
Combined with “years of chronic understaffing” Mr George added, it was no wonder that cancer charities felt that the Cancer Quality Statement didn’t provide sufficient detail or ambition.
Before the pandemic, Wales had lower cancer survival rates than other parts of the UK and the Covid-19 crisis has exacerbated the situation.
The Welsh Tories appealed for more assistance and support for patients, including the provision of free dental care for those undergoing treatment. Many of the side-effects of cancer treatment are well-known, for example, hair loss, nausea and sickness, but dental issues are often overlooked.
Many people who go through cancer treatment are susceptible to dental health problems, which they may struggle to deal with due to the cost of dental care and access issues. At a difficult time, the last thing patients want is to be worrying about being unable to pay for the dental treatment they need.
In addition to free dental treatment for cancer patients, the Welsh Conservative Party has also called for a new and improved workforce recruitment and retention plan to boost staff numbers.
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