MORE mums have come forward expressing both anger and frustration at the lack of specialised orthodontists in Barrow and the surrounding areas.

Following The Mail's previous story, three Furness mums have hit out at the shortage and the effects this has had on their families.

Dalton resident, Rachel Buckley said that her son Alfie, aged 13, required "extensive treatment" that only a specialised orthodontist could carry out and this was only available in Whitehaven and Carlisle.

Mrs Buckley said: "This was ridiculous, he was having to have a full day out of school every single time we had to go to either Whitehaven or Carlisle and considering that his estimated length of treatment is 2-3 years it means we would have to travel two hours there, two hours back for every appointment, whether it was for a five minute appointment, fifteen minute appointment or whatever - potentially that is 12 days out of school for every single child who has to go to Carlisle."

As a result, after Alfie had his invasive surgery he was moved into private care locally, which Mrs Buckley said was practically the same as the costs of getting up to Carlisle and the time it required. She did however mention the excellent treatment that Alfie had when there.

Another mum Lorraine Britton, said: "My son has been waiting for teeth to be removed for a brace he needs for four years and my daughter too, it’s awful. They are in pain and nothing I can do about it."

Clare Gibbons said: “We’ve travelled to Workington and been to Carlisle four times with my son and he still hasn’t had his brace fit yet. We go back to Carlisle in March so hopefully they will fit it then, but have been told we will have to travel back to Carlisle every 6-8 weeks for up to 3 years. I’ll have to take unpaid days off work and he’ll miss a lot of days of school not to mention the cost of travel. It’s ridiculous but we have no other choice."

Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock said: “I fully understand the anxiety expressed by parents - there is not enough local dental cover even without this loss. I have written again to NHS England highlighting the concerns felt by patients and their families. NHS England is contacting those people who are affected by the retirement, but it is important that a replacement orthodontic specialist is recruited as soon as possible.”

A spokesperson for NHS England - North (Lancashire and South Cumbria) said: “There is a Specialist Orthodontic provider retiring in March 2019 and so we are writing to all patients who have been referred into the service, but have not yet started treatment, to inform them of this. We are working to secure a new provider, which will also see more Specialist Orthodontic services provided in the area.”