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How long do we have to wait for action on Britain’s dentistry crisis?

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/how-long-do-we-have-wait-action-britains-dentistry-crisis

Toothless in England campaigners for NHS dentistry

MARK JONES of Toothless in England says the devastating report from MPs on Britain’s worsening dental crisis shows we need immediate action — and explains what must be done

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Over the past four years, Toothless in England has highlighted the deepening crisis in NHS dentistry, exposing the profound suffering of patients and the apparent lack of resolve from successive governments and NHS England to address the dental crisis. Despite some policy promises, the plight of dental patients remains dire in 2025, with access to care still elusive for many, perpetuating a public health emergency that affects both individuals and society at large.

Dental patients continue to suffer in 2025, a stark reminder of the government and NHS England’s failure to deliver systemic change. The statistics are grim: up to 97 per cent of new patients seeking NHS dental care are turned away, and 90 per cent of practices are not accepting new adult NHS patients. Waiting lists stretch to years, forcing desperate measures — with some patients resorting to DIY dentistry with pliers, while others travel abroad for “affordable” treatment.

Stories abound of crumbling teeth, chronic pain, untreated infections, deaths caused by dental sepsis and undiagnosed mouth cancers, with vulnerable groups like the elderly and low-income families hit hardest. For instance, cancer patients face delays in life-saving treatments due to inaccessible dental check-ups, a ripple effect Toothless has repeatedly highlighted.

The consequences extend beyond oral health. Untreated dental issues cost the economy through lost productivity, burden A&E departments with non-dental emergencies, and widen health inequalities.

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/how-long-do-we-have-wait-action-britains-dentistry-crisis

Continue ReadingHow long do we have to wait for action on Britain’s dentistry crisis?

Thames Water ‘rewarded for years of mismanagement’ with £3bn emergency loan

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/thames-water-rewarded-for-years-of-mismanagement-with-ps3bn-emergency-loan

A tanker pumps out excess sewage from the Lightlands Lane sewage pumping station in Cookham, Berskhire, January 10 ,2024

Customers will bear brunt of sky-high interest rates though increased bills, campaigners warn

THAMES WATER’S £3 billion bailout was approved by the High Court today, triggering outrage as campaigners warned of higher bills from sky-high interest payments.

The High Court cleared the loan just weeks before the debt-laden firm was due to run out of money, temporarily staving off the possibility of special administration and temporary nationalisation.

Former Tory PM Margaret Thatcher wrote off the debts of Britain’s water firms when the industry was privatised in 1989.

But Thames Water, which serves 16 million customers, has since siphoned off £7.2bn in dividends, while amassing £19bn worth of debt.

In his judgment, Justice Leech noted that the headline interest rate on the emergency loan, which stands at 9.75 per cent was “very, very high.”

The Financial Times reported that the bailout could incur as much as £800 million in interest and fees.

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/thames-water-rewarded-for-years-of-mismanagement-with-ps3bn-emergency-loan

Keir Starmer commits to play the caretaker role for Capitalism through the "hard times".
Keir Starmer commits to play the caretaker role for Capitalism through the “hard times”.
Continue ReadingThames Water ‘rewarded for years of mismanagement’ with £3bn emergency loan