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For part of the year, the Borough was fortunate enough to have the use of one of the
Inner London Education Authority's first two mobile dental surgeries (trailer caravans)
which has been in continuous circuit round the special schools. As soon as the Inner
London Education Authority have more mobiles built, it is hoped that one will be
permanently in use in Tower Hamlets for the regular treatment of the handicapped children
in school. It may be possible to experiment with a second caravan for use by a Dental
Auxiliary, inconjunction with the first one, and to extend the experimental use of dental
caravan(s) to certain secondary schools
Future plans include the provision of a third (orthodontic) dental surgery at Ida
Samuel Clinic, postponed from this year, and the building of a three surgery preventive
dental clinic at Watney Street (to replace Prunella Clinic).
Plans will also have to be made for an additional surgery at Wellington Way Clinic
and for a two surgery unit instead of the single surgery at Bromley Clinic. In this way,
it is anticipated that each clinic will eventually accommodate a dental surgeon, working
with a dental auxiliary. It is not anticipated, however, that the Island Clinic would
require an additional surgery, unless the building programme on the Isle of Dogs
produces a very large increase in local population. The provision of a part-time dental
surgery at the Wapping Clinic must be planned to meet the needs of the increasing
population in this area.
SPECIAL SERVICES
Dental treatment for mentally and physically handicapped children in special schools
was developed during the year by using a mobile dental caravan in circuit round four of
our seven special schools. Children from the two smallest special schools were transported
to the clinic by car whilst the remaining school awaits the caravan when access to its
playground has been improved to make this possible.
The new conception of having the caravan parked in the school playground, whilst the
Dental Officer and Dental Surgery Assistant become integrated with the school routine, the
children and the teaching staff, has proved immensely successful. Acceptance for treatment
has been obtained from almost every child who does not regularly attend his or her local
practitioner or hospital. Almost all the children have eventually accepted treatment,
the changed image of the Dental Officer and dental surgery helping them to overcome their
apprehension. The service provided is equally popular with head teachers and their staff.
In 1968, it is hoped that Leopold Street Clinic will be available for those children
who, for one reason or another, are untreatable in the caravan. It is also hoped to
inaugurate a full service at Leopold Street for those in the Borough's training centres.
Treatment will also be made available for those on the "At Risk" register who wish to
have it at the clinic.
The Orthodontic Service continued in 1967 with the two sessions at Ida Samuel Clinic,
was augmented even more this year by orthodontic cases being treated by other dental
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