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12(J
A room at Squires Lane School was fitted with the necessary
apparatus and first used in October, 1911, and in 1913
was transferred to the special room at the new school.
The arrangements are briefly these:—All the children
under nine years old in each school are first examined by the
dentist, and the names of those who require treatment of the
permanent teeth entered in a register with details as to the
treatment required. A letter is then sent to the parents informing
them that the child's teeth require treatment, and
giving them the opportunity of interviewing the School
Medical Officer on a date stated. (See Form A in Appendix.)
The doctor then attends at the appointed time and place,
explains to the parents what is required and if it is decided
to treat the child at the Clinic the parent signs the necessary
form. (See Form B in Appendix.) The contribution
towards the cost of treatment which each parent makes varies
from 6d. to 2s. 6d. per child, and is fixed according to the
circumstances of the case; the doctor is helped in assessing
this by a report upon the social condition of the paients,
which is supplied by the Attendance Officers through the
Education Department. The average amount recovered is a
little under one shilling per child. Arrangements are subsequently
made for the children to be treated and a card is
posted to the parents two or three days before the appointment.
(See Form C in Appendix.) The School Nurse
attends on all days of examinations or treatment.
The examination of the children is made at their own
schools, and the dentist uses mirrors and probes. They go
out of their classes one at a time and are not in the least
alarmed. No trouble whatever has been experienced.
The interview with the parents. The doctor has found it
suits parents better to attend the school rather than the office.
About &0 per cent, attended, another 5 per cent, sent word to
say that they could not attend for various reasons (principally
"work"). In the latter cases the Nurse visited the