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637
I have approached several Hospital Committees, and have
much appreciated the readiness with which they have expressed
their willingness to adopt the suggestion in its application to Stoke
Newington, and I have supplied to each Hospital serving Stoke
Newington residents a few notification forms, enclosed within
stamped and addressed envelopes.
It is obvious that the general adoption in London of such a
scheme would present the following advantages:
(1) It would be the surest, simplest and most direct method of
ensuring that children do not fail to derive permanent
benefit from Hospital treatment and advice by reason of the
lack of necessary after-care.
(2) It would best secure the continuance of skilled advice (medical,
where necessary), by specially trained workers, who often
have been already in touch with the parents and who are
in the closest co-operation with all local agencies, voluntary
and otherwise.
(3) It would assist in promoting the continued contact with the
Centres of many parents and children.
(4) It would relieve many already over-worked Hospital almoners
from a part of a branch of their work which is often very
difficult for them to perform in a manner entirely satisfactory
to themselves.
So far we have not received the full information which was
sought for and promised.
Poverty and indifference lead to the neglect of the valuable
services which a dentist can render, and so it is not surprising that
nearly 40 per cent. of the children commencing school are found to
be suffering from considerable dental decay.
Impressed by the above-mentioned facts the Maternity and
Child Welfare Committee presented and recommended to the Council
the following schemt, after giving due consideration to alternative
schemes, for dental treatment in connection with the Maternity and
Child Welfare work: