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145
SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICE.
This Service deals not only with those attending Borough
Primary, Central and Special Schools, but provision is also made
for treatment to be obtained for a substantial number of scholarship
and free-place pupils at Secondary and Grammar Schools.
The present staff consists of six full-time Dental Officers.
One member who has been with H.M. Forces has but recently
been released, and did not re-commence his duties until 1st September,
1945.
In addition to duties carried out for the Education Committee,
the equivalent of one dental officer's time is devoted to
work under the Maternity and Child Welfare Scheme.
Arrangements for Treatment.
Treatment is carried out at six Clinics. Four of these are
situated in the Health Centre at Lodge Road, and work as a
centralised unit: one of the above is, however, of a temporary
character, and is intended to serve only until more appropriately
placed premises can be established elsewhere.
The remaining surgeries at South Norwood and Duppat
Hill continue to render good service, but facilities at both are
extremely limited, and it is hoped that, as soon as building
permits, specially constructed premises will be available in these
districts.
Provision has lately been made for the establishment of two
more branch clinics, first for the Woodside and later for the
Addington areas. In the case of the former district prospective
accommodation has been secured, but, at the time of writing,
difficulties with reconstruction are hindering further developments.
Staffing.
Owing to the fact that the time of one dental officer is taken
up exclusively with work in connection with the Maternity and
Child Welfare Scheme, only five dental surgeons are in fact available
for the care of the whole of the normal school population
of about 25,000. Taking into account the inclusion of treatment
for Secondary and Grammar Schools, provision for which has
been made in the new Education Act (1945), present liabilities
may be assessed as covering some 27,000 children,