Bolton MP Yasmin Qureshi backs campaign for cancer patients

Campaigner Michele Solak-Edwards started a petition four years ago which is on the verge of 200,000 signatures.

In 2016, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and, a year after she started the petition, she was diagnosed with bladder cancer. Shortly after the first diagnosis she was shocked to be told dental treatment is not free for cancer patients as it is for others such as people who are under the age of 18 and people who are on low incomes.

It was this experience as well as the experiences of other women in her network which led to the start of the campaign.

Ms Solak-Edwards said: "I saw stories of people saying 'I am losing every tooth in my head. What am I going to do?'."

"I started the campaign because it was a common theme."

Andrew Western, the MP for Ms Solak Edward's hometown of Flixton, Trafford, is a supporter and this week he secured a debate at Westminster.

Bolton South East MP Yasmin Qureshi added her support to the support of Mr Western in calling for action from Health Minister Andrea Leadsom.

Ms Qureshi, who is the chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Dentistry, said: "I strongly support an exemption for people who are suffering from cancer and who therefore should be able to receive all the treatment they need."

Ms Leadsom agreed to look into improved information and agreed to meet with Ms Solak-Edwards about other issues.

However she stopped short of any commitment to look into the idea of making dental treatment free for cancer patients.

Ms Leadsom said: "At a time when NHS budgets are under pressure it is not feasible to offer free dental care to every patient regardless of their means. 

"We are instead focusing our efforts on continuing to ensure the most vulnerable are supported to access NHS dentistry including patients with cancer."

Ms Solak-Edwards said she is "delighted" and "disappointed" at the same time.

She told The Bolton News she is looking forward to a meeting with the minister.

Ms Solak-Edwards said: "[Ms Leadsom] was never going to say 'Yes, let's offer free dental care'. The fact she agreed to meet with us is a win because it allows me to speak about things they've not thought about and to test the waters. 

"I'm delighted there were some wins but I'm disappointed we didn't go further."

For information about the campaign go to change.org/p/free-dental-treatment-for-cancer-patients-change-the-law.

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.