A HEREFORD woman has told how she has had to take painkillers every day due to delays to her jaw surgery.

Gemma Forrow, 25, said she has now been waiting to have surgery on her overbite for almost two years.

After moving to the county from Manchester, she had braces fitted and was told she would need her wisdom teeth removed.

A specialist at Hereford County Hospital later told her a date would be set for surgery on her jaw by the Easter of 2014 — she is still waiting, however.

“It’s affecting my quality of life,” she said.

“I can’t drink properly and can’t eat food properly.

“Three years of my young adult life have been taken away and a huge chapter is missing.

“My confidence is at completely rock bottom.

“In a way, if I had known about the process I would have not gone down this route — it’s the worst decision I have ever made.”

Miss Forrow has been taking paracetamol and codeine on a daily basis to help her with the pain.

She has also previously taken other medication to help her sleep.

The Hereford Times reported last month how 26-year-old Ashley Baker was left embarrassed and hungry while he too waited for treatment.

The delays, as in this case, were down to changes being made to the health service.

In a statement, Wye Valley Trust said it was “disappointed”

there had been a delay with Miss Forrow’s surgery of approximately 12 months.

“During this period we have continued to provide dental treatment for Gemma,” the statement explained.

“This has been due to changes being made to the service provided for patients requiring orthodontic surgery at this hospital.

“While these complex changes are underway, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is supporting the trust to provide alternative temporary arrangements, which are now in place.

“Gemma will shortly be offered an appointment date where her planned surgery will be agreed.

“We wish to apologise to Gemma for this delay.”

Graham James, divisional medical director for surgery with Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said the trust was asked to undertake this surgery for Wye Valley NHS Trust’s existing patients while changes werebeing made to the service in Herefordshire.

“We have remained in constant communication with the Hereford team and are pleased to have now finalised the arrangements to treat these patients,” he said.

“We have been working hard with our colleagues from Hereford to arrange these clinics and will be contacting Gemma shortly to confirm the date of her appointment with our clinical team to progress her treatment further,” he added.