Monmouth MP David Davies has taken up the case of two local people who are struggling to get the medical treatment they need. Mr Davies has spoken to the local residents, a cancer sufferer and a war veteran, to hear of their struggles with the healthcare system in Wales, and to try to make more people aware that their situations are more prevalent than otherwise understood. Mr Davies visited Charles Christmas, a war veteran from Abergavenny who has been suffering with chronic tooth pain and is facing a wait of nine months for dental treatment. Mr Christmas, from Union Road West, visited his dentist at the beginning of June. He was told he has an infected wisdom tooth requiring extraction but there is an NHS waiting list of nine months. In desperation, 85 year-old Mr Christmas paid for a private consultation at St Joseph's Hospital in Newport where he was shocked to discover the cost of removing the tooth could be almost £2,000.   Mr Christmas, who served in the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm during the Korean War said, "I am not a wealthy man and I cannot afford to pay for a private operation. I just hope something can be done to speed up the wait." Mr Davies has raised Mr Christmas' case with Aneurin Bevan Health Board and written to various armed forces charities to see if any financial assistance is available, and while the response has been positive, he has spoken out at the absurdity that charities are being relied on for people to get much needed treatment   Mr Davies said, "We should not be relying on charities. Mr Christmas has valiantly served this country in war and peace and to be told he has to wait in pain for nine months is completely unacceptable.   "The Welsh Government is making a lot of noise about helping veterans but the reality is that nothing seems to be changing on the ground.   "I have been in touch with the local health board and want to know why something can't be done more quickly for Mr Christmas." Cases like this are even more prevalent in light of the new budget cuts that have been announced to local authorities, in order to fund even more money from local services into the NHS, and within Monmouthshire, the County Council has been alerted to cuts of up to 4.5%. This action has been taken to combat the clearly evidenced demands and pressures facing the NHS in Wales, which will be welcomed by those in need of treatment, but is causing some struggles to local government. Councillor John Prosser, the Chairman of the Council, spoke last week of how things would need to be changed, and that times are getting more difficult. However it can be hoped that despite the struggles to local authorities, these cuts can make a difference to those local people in difficult situations. It is also hoped that these changes may make a difference to recent figures marking Wales as having the worst waiting times across the UK by almost 30% in some areas of treatment. The Welsh Government has since said it cannot discuss individual cases, but has stated that it is working hard to raise standards and ensure that all people are seen as quickly as possible and clinically prioritised. Following an encounter with a local cancer sufferer, Mr Davies is also urging the Welsh Government to back a Bill to allow those in Wales to opt for treatment in England when not available within their own Health Board. Usk resident Ann Wilkinson, aged 76, has been denied access to a life-prolonging drug because she lives in Wales. Ann has already had a tumour removed from her bowel but the disease has spread to her liver. But while patients in England with a similar condition are being offered a new drug called bevacizumab (Avastin), which slows the spread of the cancer and can extend the life of patients by years, Ann was refused this by the Aneurin Bevan Health Board.   Mrs Wilkinson said, "I have decided that I want to speak out about this issue because I feel very strongly indeed that patients living in Wales should be entitled to the same level of healthcare as patients in England.   "I was 10 years old when the National Health Service was set up by an MP from Wales and I can still remember the excitement that surrounded the news.   "Aneurin Bevan would be turning in his grave if he could see patients being forced to pay for private treatment because medicines are being withheld."   After Mrs Wilkinson's Individual Patient Funding Request (IPFR) was turned down, she was told the only way she would be able to receive Avastin would be to move back to England.   But Mrs Wilkinson said, "We have been here for 27 years, why should we move from the place we love to get this drug? I feel badly let down at being denied something that is freely available across the rest of the UK.   "My husband Allan had a heart attack last week and is in hospital. I want to stay well for as long as possible to look after him."   Mr Davies, who has met with Mrs Wilkinson and supported her IPFR, said he would be urgently contacting the Welsh Health Minister and Interim Chief Executive of Aneurin Bevan Health Board.   Mr Davies said, "Sadly, I am coming across many examples of patients who are not getting medicines or treatment readily available across the border in England. "I have no issue with the NHS staff, who work incredibly hard. My criticism is of Welsh Government ministers who seem content to preside over a second-class health service. Even worse, their colleagues on the Assembly Health Committee refuse to take evidence from people with concerns.   "I recently tabled an amendment to the Government of Wales Bill which would give patients like Ann the automatic right to opt for treatment in England. Unfortunately, I have been told it will not go ahead without the backing of Welsh Assembly Members."   Mrs Wilkinson is being supported by family friend and fellow Usk resident Julie McGowan, who has set up a petition on Change.org calling for a cancer drugs fund in Wales.   "If Ann isn't given Avastin, her condition will deteriorate," added Mrs McGowan. "She and her husband will then need considerable community care and support. So on cost alone, this decision makes no sense - but of course the moral case is inarguable.   "We should not have different health services. Most people I have spoken to would far rather see a cancer care fund for Wales than a blanket policy of free prescriptions.   "Our MP David Davies has signed the petition and I very much hope that people across Wales will do the same."   The petition can be found online at change.org/en-GB/petitions/cancer-drugs-for-wales.