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59
GENERAL DENTAL SERVICE
This was continued on the same lines as in previous years,
but difficulties arose in regard to dental staffing.
Arrangements exist under which X-ray facilities are made
available to local dental practitioners.
Additional equipment for the Dental Workshop was approved
up to a total of £200.
The appointment of a trainee dental mechanic was authorised.
Mr. L. W. Elmer, L.D.S., Senior Dental Surgeon in charge
of all Dental Services reports as follows:—
The Municipal Dental Service was initiated by the Walthamstow
Borough Council in the spring of 1944, with a staff of three
part-time dental surgeons. Each succeeding year has shown a
steady increase in public demand for its services, this demand being
met by an increase of staff. By July 5th, 1948, the yearly attendance
was at the rate of over 6,000 (as compared with 558 in 1944).
1949 was the first complete year of the operation of this
service since, under the Health Act, responsibility was transferred
to the Executive and County Councils for Essex.
The year started with a staff of two full-time and three parttime
dental surgeons but, owing to the difficulties common to all
forms of salaried dental service it was reduced during the year to
four part-time officers. Mr. Clarke, although continuing part-time
attendance, resigned in order to take a higher qualification and
Mr. Timmis transferred to the School Dental Service.
With this shortage of staff it has become increasingly difficult,
indeed impossible, to cope with the enormous demand, but every
effort has been made to attend to the needs of regular past patients
and of expectant and nursing mothers.
In spite of the difficulties enumerated above, the number of
individual patients treated, and the items of conservative work
completed has been equal to that of the previous year.