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(4) To offer facilities to the Public Health Committee for treatment
of younger children and of mothers, and in particular for
instruction in the means of preventing dental decay.
(5) To limit treatment strictly to the age groups scheduled, with
the smallest possible number of exceptions.
This will involve:—
(a) An alteration and progressive increase of dental staff.
(b) In due course an additional clinic nurse and the services of a
clerk beyond the clerk who now allots one-half of his time to
the work.
(c) Later on, the provision of a second dental clinic and equipment
and its installation in premises other than those now available.
The proposals for dental work for each of the years 1924, 1925 and
1926 are set out in detail, and show the gradual extension recommended.
The dental staff suggested for each year will be able to deal fully with all
children in the age groups allocated to the year in question. The dentists
are likely to be fully occupied in doing this, in association with the work
in the pre-school period suggested. The latter work would be allocated
one session per week in 1924, but this would increase to two sessions per
week with the appointment of two whole-time dentists, since each would
take part in it, each for one session per week.
Programme for 1924-25.
(1).—Replace the two more recently appointed dentists by a wholetime
dental officer, who shall be in charge of the work under the School
Medical Officer. Salary suggested, £600, rising by £25 to £700. It is
essential that a salary should be given sufficient to retain a capable dentist
for a prolonged period, otherwise the Scheme will suffer seriously by
frequent change.
(2).—Retain the services of the senior part-time dentist, but reduce the
sessions from 4 to 3 per week, with a corresponding reduction in the
salary. On the basis of the present salary (£200), the salary would
become £150.
By employing a part-time dentist three sessions per week in additon
to a whole-time dentist, it will be possible to utilise the clinic fully on
each morning and afternoon of the school week and on Saturday morning,
after allowing time to each dentist for inspections at schools, and to the
whole-time dentist for work in connection with Welfare Centres, etc. If
a whole-time dentist alone is employed there must obviously be half-days
on which the clinic will not be working, owing to inspection being carried
on at school.
(3).—Transfer the eve clinic to 228, London Road, where reasonably
satisfactory accommodation can be utilised. Some expenditure on the
transfer of the fittings, wiring, provision of blinds, etc., would be involved.
(4).—Offer to the Public Health Committee the services of the wholetime
dental officer up to one-tenth of his time, with facilities for treatment
of mothers and young children (and of tuberculous, patients if so desired
by that Committee), on one session in each week, and for inspection and
instruction at Welfare Centres: the Public Health Committee to be
responsible for one-tenth of his salary and of the cost of maintaining the
clinic including the provision of new dental equipment in the future.