View report page

This Clinic showed a decrease upon 1950 in numbers submitted
to refraction. A total of 3,107 attendances was recorded.
SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICE.
The above Service deals chiefly with the routine inspection
and treatment of those attending Borough Primary, Secondary,
Technical and Special Schools. "Free-place" scholars at certain
non-maintained schools approved by the local Education Committee
are also eligible for treatment.
In addition to the above, facilities are also provided for those
referred under Maternity and Child Welfare and Mental
Deficiency Schemes. Particulars of work carried out in connection
with the former will be found in the appropriate Report.
Staffing.
Though there has been some improvement in the overall
position during the past year, the work of the Sub-department
continues to be handicapped by lack of professional staff,
and in the face of a rapidly rising school population it was
still impossible to carry out annual inspection- and treatment for
all within the scheme. Because of the dearth of applicants for
full-time posts, the policy of supplementing permanent staff by
additional sessions from part-time dental surgeons has been continued
to good effect; with recent additions this help now
represents the equivalent of two full-time dentists. The full
complement of regular and part-time staff now amounts to six
full-time officers.
Though arrangements of this kind raise certain administrative
problems, part-timers have worked exceedingly well, and
their efforts have assisted in appreciably reducing the time lag