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54 children of school age were discharged from the Clinics during the
year. In 40 cases the speech was normal. Of the remaining 14 cases, 4
ceased to attend for treatment, 5 left school or left the district, 3 refused
treatment, 2 were referred elswhere.
School Dental Servcie.—Mr. E. V. Haigh, Senior Dental Officer,
reports as follows: —
"Full dental treatment was carried out in the llford Area at
Mayesbrook Clinic, Valentines Clinic and at Manford Way Clinic,
Mayesbrook and Valentines Clinics having two surgeries and Manford
Way one surgery in use.
Owing to the shortage of Dental Officers willing to undertake
Clinic work it has been only possible to use Manford Way Surgery
for one session per week during 1957.
At Mayesbrook and Valentines Surgeries, where there is more demand
for dental treatment, it has been possible to keep almost fully staffed
during the past year, by employing part-time Dental Officers each
doing a few sessions a week.
The number of part time Officers employed in Ilford area varied
slightly during the year but averaged eight to nine, plus my own
full time duties at Mayesbrook Clinic, which together made the
equivalent of 3.39 full time Dental Officers.
Emergency treatment on two mornings a week continued during
1957 at Mayesbrook Clinic when any child without an appointment
from any school in the area could attend and be seen by myself for
the relief of pain—further appointments being made for extractions
or conservative treatment.
During 1957 I continued with one evening session for school
children, the time of these sessions being from 5.15 to 8.15 p.m.
They have proved to be most satisfactory, especially for the older
secondary children studying for examinations who do not wish to
miss school time. In fact I now have a waiting list for these evening
sessions and only those who cannot possibly attend during the daytime
may be given an after school appointment.
X-ray facilities are available at Mayesbrook and Manford Way
Clinic. Patients attending Valentines Clinic are usually sent to Mayesbrook
Clinic if they require X-rays to be taken; the films being sent
back to the Dental Surgeon at Valentines Clinic after they have been
processed.
During 1957 we obtained the services of several part-time Officers
who are interested and able to undertake orthodontic treatment of
school children. In the past it has been difficult to cope with the
number of patients with irregular teeth but at the moment the position
is much easier.
Most extractions were performed under General Anaesthesia,
these being given by a Medical Officer. Usually two sessions were
devoted to this per week, when an average of 20 patients were treated
per session.
The number of school children inspected at schools during the
year was 5,972. This is 2,030 children more than last year but still
well below the ideal owing to shortage of dental officers."