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69
Starffing
With eight surgeries and a total staff employed on the
school dental service equivalent to 5.45 full time officers, it
has been necessary for one dental officer to cover two clinics.
By doing this it has been possible to offer a service at all
the clinics in the area.
The recruitment position concerning dental officers has
become worse in this area during the past two years. From
1960-1964 the staffing position improved considerably but now
it is much more difficult to get suitable applicants. This is a
national problem which finance plays a large part but also it
seems to be geographical as well with certain outer London
Boroughs. Dental officers who wish to work in London find
the journey too tiresome, also it is not far enough out of
London to attract people who wish to work in a more rural area.
Mr. Willson working at Kenwood Dental Clinic was appointed
Senior Dental Officer for the additional duties of supervising
a dental auxiliary. Mrs. L. French commenced duties as a
dental auxiliary on 1st March 1966. The quality of her work
was of a high standard and she was liked by the children. I am
sure there is a place for auxiliaries in the school dental
service, especially when it comes to treating very young children
who need careful handling and patience. However, the
auxiliary only stayed six months because she wished to move
to the south coast. I am hoping to shortly replace her at the
beginning of 1967.
Premises
The dental clinic at 93 High Road, Woodford, was moved
to 118 Hermon Hill in November because it was planned to
rebuild on the site at 93 High Road, Woodford. Adapting old
premises for surgery use is never very satisfactory but at least
we are continuing a dental service in the Wanstead", and Woodford
area until new premises are built.
All the other dental surgeries continued as last year to be
in use. The new clinic being built at Loxford Lane in the
southern part of the borough will have one dental surgery. This
should help to dentally cover a large number of children living
in this area.
Equipment
Some of the surgeries have equipment which is becoming
old and inefficient such as dental units. These will be replaced
on a yearly progressive programme and so spread the cost over
several years.