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part-time dental surgeons, resulting in a full-time equivalent
of 8.3, this unfortunately was not to last for long. By the end
of the first quarter, three full-time members of staff had resigned
— one. to gain further experience in America and two to start
practice in the General Dental Service. This meant that almost
simultaneously three dental surgeries — those at the Health
Centre, Collier Row and Elm Park — were left unstaffed.
On 1st April, the first of three major clinic improvement
schemes began, with the closing of the clinic in St. Mary's
Lane, Upminster. Mr. Wright, who had been operating full-time
at Upminster, transferred to the vacant surgery at the Health
Centre — this providing continuity of treatment for those Upminster
patients prepared to travel and for those who had already been
attending the Health Centre. The clinics at Hornchurch and Elm
Park were the next to close, and Mrs. Saunders transferred from
Hornchurch to Harold Wood Clinic, and from then on, began to
divide her time between Harold Wood, to which clinic the patients
from Hornchurch travelled, and Collier Row Clinic — in order to
provide a part-time service in that part of the Borough. This
arrangement continued until the end of the year.
For those patients attending the Elm Park clinic, arrangements
were made for treatment to be available at South Hornchurch
Clinic. The temporary closure of these three clinics helped to
minimise the very acute staff shortage which persisted for the
remainder of the year.
In September an improved salary structure was announced
for Local Authority Dental Officers by the Dental Whitely
Council, and it was hoped that this would help in some way
towards recruitment. Advertisements for staff were placed in
the professional journals giving the new salary scale, but the
result was disappointing, as no suitable applications were
received. It would seem that the remuneration laid down by the
Government Review Body for dentists practising in the General
Dental Service, together with the advantages of being selfemployed,
provide a combination which leave the financial
status of the Local Authority Dental Officer far behind. Unless
there is a true vocation to treat children, then recruits to the
service will not be forthcoming.
Dental decay affects 99% of children under twelve years
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