View report page

13
The new building is admirably situated for dealing with the
great majority of existing schools and should, it is hoped, be
able to meet the requirements of any foreseeable developments in
the area. Arrangements for integration with the Welfare side of
the work are dealt with in the appropriate Report.
With regard to the general conduct of the School Dental
Service, statistics show that progress on the clinical side has
been satisfactory and whilst, because of earlier staffing
difficulties, coverage of schools was rather below the previous
year, a reasonable balance of inspection and treatment has been
maintained.
Inspections
The number of children on the register at maintained schools
within the Borough at the close of 1963 was 36,269. Including an
additional 45 scholars at 'grant assisted" schools this represents
a sum total of 36,314.
During the year 89.4 per cent, of the school population were
examined, compared with 92.6 per cent, in 1962. This decrease
has come about largely as a result of unfavourable conditions
prevailing during the early months of the year. According to
recent returns 1,636 children remained unexamined during 1963,
compared with 1, 458 last year.
At those schools visited 32,416 were inspected and 11,247
(34.7 per cent.) referred for treatment, compared with 33,486
inspected and 12,863 (38.4 per cent.) referred in 1962.
Because of discrimination exercised in the matter of certain
conditions deemed inadvisable to treat, the above figures should
not be regarded as an index of the actual incidence of decay.
The results obtained from school inspections were as follows: -
Acceptance of Treatment 35.3%
Refused Treatment 50 %
Forms Not Returned 14.7%
Prom the above figures it will be seen that rather less
children were found to be in need of treatment at school inspections.
Though there has been a rise of a few points in the percentage
of refusals, the current trend of lower acceptances has
now appreciably lessened, and quite a proportion of those
"opting out"at inspections are subsequently treated as "specials"
when trouble intervenes. Though every effort is made by members
of the staff to stress the importance of early attention, it is
clear that a certain proportion of parents still adopt a noncommittal
attitude in this matter as regards clinic treatment,
partly no doubt on the assumption that ready attention can be
secured elsewhere.