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Following the special Ministry of Health enquiry during the year on facilities for
emergencies, great care was taken to cover all of the points raised.
(a) Power operated suction apparatus (Rotabine) have been installed in all
three centres.
(b) Three new Walton anaesthetic machines have been in use since April, 1967.
These enable effective inflation of the lungs to be carried out. Oral airways
are available.
(c) All dental chairs have been tested and can quickly be moved into a horizontal
position.
(d) All three centres are equipped with surgical swab holders and tongue
forceps. Suitable drugs are available.
(e) Anaesthetists are familiar with the relevant Ministry Circular.
Dental Caravan
The new caravan has been used on two occasions in the school grounds of Adamsrill
School (Infants and Junior Mixed). This is an ideal solution of the "broken appointments"
problem and has proved a great success with the heads of schools, parents and
children. It is hoped that in the not too distant future every Fnner London Borough
will have a caravan which can be used for school children, many mothers and toddlers
and handicapped children in special schools and training centres.
At present, where schools are too far from clinics, minibuses are available, bringing
about ten children per session, escorted either by School Care Committee workers or
dental surgery assistants, approximately twice a week per centre in term time. This
arrangement also applies to children under school age and day nurseries.
Dental Caries Survey
A survey of five-year-old school entrants was carried out between January and July,
in seventeen schools and involved 1,278 children. Only nineteen per cent, were found
to be dentally fit, while eighty-one per cent. had an average of four teeth decayed,
missing or filled. This corresponds with the findings in the other Inner London
Boroughs. This is something of an indictment of the community's attention to dental
hygiene.
Maternal and Child Health
Under Section 22 of the National Health Service Act 1946, local authorities should
provide treatment for the priority classes, children under school age and expectant
and nursing mothers. This service has been expanded very energetically (see tables).
Three day-nurseries, two creches and nursery school classes are inspected at least
once a year and treatment is provided for the children whose parents sign the consent
form. Transport is arranged.
Junior and Adult Training Centres
The Junior Training Centres and both Adult Training Centre were inspected. Treatment
is provided for a number of children in the Dental Centres, while some who
proved unmanageable were referred to hospital. A list of those requiring attention in
the adult training centres was circulated to N.H.S. dentists in the Borough, who have
offered to undertake the necessary treatment.
Dental Health Education
It is of the greatest importance to introduce children at the earliest opportunity to
oral hygiene and problems of diet. The best way to achieve this is by bringing the
service to the children at health centres. The three-year- old birthday invitation is very
effective and an obvious choice of approach. Approximately seven sessions per week
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