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by the dental officer in the dental surgery has become part of routine
toddlers' examinations. This accustoms the children to the dental
surgery and to the idea of dental treatment whilst helping to prevent the
first visit to the dentist being associated with pain.
Leaflets on oral hygiene and dental care are available and coloured
posters illustrating various aspects of dental health are displayed
in clinic waiting rooms.
Statistics on page 42.
HOME HELP SERVICE
At no time during the year was it possible to recruit a full
establishment of home helps. The re-organisation created particular
difficulties in this connection and in the Sutton and Cheam area, previously
administered from the Divisional Office at Epsom, the number available
in the early weeks was considerably reduced.
It will be necessary to consider methods of attracting more women to
this service which is an essential part of home care for maternity cases,
the sick and the elderly. No other group of workers makes a greater
contribution towards domiciliary care then the home helps whose work fulfils
the highest calls of public service.
The scheme for Neighbourly Helps, whereby neighbours in return for
payment up to £2 per week, carry out simple domestic duties for one or more
persons in need living in the immediate neighbourhood has much promise;
there are some who are reluctant to accept help from their neighbours and
some who would be willing to give help are deterred by the legal necessity
of obtaining an insurance card. I am sure this scheme is capable of expansion
and additional helpers are urgently needed. Nine cases only were being
helped in this way in 1965. Other statistical information concerning the
Home Help Service is as follows:-