THE son of an elderly Bewdley woman suffering because of ill-fitting dentures is outraged that she has been waiting months for a new set.

Colin Ashmore said his 90-year-old mother, Bess, who lives in Hales Park, desperately needed the new teeth as her current set was causing her such discomfort that she was unable to eat properly and struggling to talk.

Mrs Ashmore went for a routine check-up at Stanley Dental Practice at Kidderminster Health Centre on September 12 and was told she would need a new set of dentures.

Since then, she has had several further appointments and was due to get her new teeth during an appointment on Thursday, January 5 but it was postponed.

Mr Ashmore, who lives in Northampton, was informed by the practice that staff at the dental laboratory where the teeth were made would be on Christmas holiday until yesterday.

His mother's appointment has now been moved to Tuesday, January 31, unless there is a cancellation.

Mr Ashmore said he was furious she would have to wait nearly another month to be seen, adding: "They said their hands are tied and they cannot get them back from the laboratory.

"We have been waiting months to get her a new set of false teeth.

"This is just an appalling service. I am absolutely hopping mad about this."

Wyre Forest Primary Care Trust's public liaison officer, Paul Lynn, said: "The practice does not have laboratory services on site and, therefore, subcontracts out the work for denture production.

"The practice has told us that they experience good relations with this service.

"Staffing arrangements and working hours are a matter for the laboratory and practice concerned and not for the PCT. Therefore, we cannot comment further."

Dentist, Andrew Stanley said: "While we are unable to comment on individual cases due to patient confidentiality, Stanley Dental Practice uses dental laboratories in good faith.

"The construction of dentures requires several laboratory stages and once the course of treatment has started using one laboratory we are reliant on that laboratory to complete the work.

"Occasionally, it is necessary to rearrange patients' appointments due to unforeseen circumstances in the laboratory."