London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Lambeth 1972
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lambeth Borough]
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132
Staffing
It is the problem of staffing that has caused most of our difficulties
particularly the recruitment of dental officers. Our Senior Dental Officer resigned
in September and one of our dental officers was appointed in his place. One full
time dental officer moved to Australia, one left for Colchester to join her husband
serving in H.M. Forces, a third resigned to study for the Diploma in Orthodontics.
Two sessional dental officers left, one for a hospital appointment and another
after many years service to take up an appointment in Lesotho. Our dental
auxiliary left the district and it was impossible to replace her, this highlighted
the problem of finding a suitable medium for dental auxiliary advertisements.
The loss of so many dental officers meant that adequate and rapid replacement
was not possible. There seems to be an increasing tendancy for dental surgeons
after qualifying to take a local authority appointment for a short time and then
return to a hospital or dental school for an appointment or further study.
The dental surgery assistant staffing has been more satisfactory and no
great difficulties have arisen to cover the dental officer sessions that were
carried out. The level of salary of dental surgery assistants continues to cause
concern and it is a measure of their loyalty that they do not leave to obtain
better salaries elsewhere.
The staffing position as at 31st December, 1972 was as follows:-
| Principal School Dental Officers | 1 |
| Senior Dental Officer | 1 |
| F.T. Dental Officer | 1 |
| Sessional Dental Officers | 6 (2.0 F.T. equivalent) |
| Sessional Anaesthetists | 2 |
| Dental Surgery Assistants | 8 |
Premises and Equipment
After many setbacks due to building delays, it was pleasing to see the
opening of two new surgeries at Belthorn M.C.H. and School Treatment Centre
to replace the one surgery at Clapham Park School Treatment Centre. The design
and equipment plans for these surgeries had finally become a reality. The dental
services occupy the major portion of the first floor, with two surgeries, recovery
room, office, two waiting rooms one of which is for parents and a combined dark
room and laboratory. These services provide good facilities for children and
parents and pleasant working conditions for the staff. The Mayor of Lambeth
officially opened the building and was able to see the dental suite during his
tour of the premises. The full benefits of this purpose built dental suite stands