Who says, crime doesn’t pay? Whoever did needs to think again. The phrase “crime doesn’t pay”, I believe, is an example of a Victorian saying that was meant to encourage morality and work. It is supposed to mean that crime or any illegal method of earning is not a profitable venture, or rather it is never beneficial. Tell that to the Marines!
Here’s my beef. You cannot get an NHS dentist for love or money. Records reveal that 97 per cent of people without a dentist who tried to get an NHS appointment in the last couple of months could not. Desperate folks with dental issues are having to resort to DIY methods: dangerous DIY methods. Too painful to mention here. Only 52 per cent of the British public are registered with an NHS dentist, according to the Office for National Statistics.
But guess what! If you are a convicted criminal, residing at His Majesty’s pleasure, that is, in prison, you get dental care as quickly as the same day – at taxpayers’ expense. Say what?
Peeps, prisoners have better access to free NHS dentistry than millions of law-abiding patients. In prisons like Belmarsh, Pentonville and Frankland, which houses some of the worst criminals (we are talking child killers, serial killers and rapists) inmates get to see a dentist the same day if they are experiencing pain.
Three weeks ago, I was experiencing pain. I called the (NHS) dentist to make an appointment that day (as I would be travelling). I was told that the dentist wasn’t in, and an appointment was made for me to see the dentist some days later. In the meantime, I suffered pain and by the time I saw the dentist, some days later, my situation was serious. But had I been a convicted criminal my problem would never have got to that.
By the way, in response to this debacle, a spokesman for NHS England said they are ‘legally tasked with ensuring dental care is provided to patients in prison.’
And what about the rest of us: us law-abiding patients? Who cares about us?
Crime doesn’t pay? Says who?