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130
Allowing for Maternity and Child Welfare requirements the
above Establishment still entails a panel of upwards of 6,000
children per dental officer, or twice that considered reasonable to
permit the carrying out of an annual inspection and treatment.
The most pressing need is for an increase in surgery accommodation
to permit the requisite expansion necessary for removing
existing anomolies (in staffing) and bringing the service into line
with present day requirements.
Though acquisition of suitable personnel is likely to remain
a long term problem, improvements in premises and working
conditions would do much to attract applicants with the necessary
qualifications and experience.
On the credit side the new full-time clinic opened at the
Overburv School in September last is fulfilling a long felt need
and has proved an unqualified success. These premises should
cater adequately for those attending schools on the New Addington
Building Estate whilst at the same time reducing the pressure
on remaining clinics.
Eollowing developments at New Yddington a reorganisation
of sessions worked by part-time officers has been possible at
Lodge Road Clinic, which will in turn provide accommodation
for a further full-time dentist and additional part-time sessions.
Proposals for a hew Dental Centre to serve the eastern side
of the Borough have received general approval and it is hoped
that more detailed plans can be submitted in the near future. The
above project represents a further stage in the 1946 Plan of
Development for meeting the requirements of the Woodside,
Shirley and Monks Hill districts, reasons for which were fully
explained in last year's Report.
Difficulties continue to be experienced in providing adequate
attention for those children presenting very marked deformities
of the teeth and jaws; owing to lack of suitable accommodation
little progress has been possible as regards specialist treatment
for these cases. A fuller assessment of such requirements will
be found in a later section of the Report.