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46
PROBLEM CASES CONFERENCES
These conferences meet every three weeks or so, under the aegis of the
Divisional Officer (Education) to discuss children who are presenting serious
problems in terms of behaviour/attendance etc., in school. They are attended
by a senior member of the school medical staff, a senior social worker from the
Health Department and an educational psychologist as well as teachers and other
social workers who may be involved. Many children with problems of emotion or
behaviour do not need full-time attendance at a special school, but can benefit
from part-time attendance at a small tutorial class. There are 4 such classes
in the Borough.
STUDENT HEALTH
The student health service which commenced in 1967 at The London School of
Furniture continued to flourish. During term-time a medical officer attends
the college each Wednesday lunchtime to see students who wish to discuss any
health or emotional problems.
Finally may I take this opportunity of thanking the Medical Adviser and
his staff and the divisional officer of the I. L. E. A., Mr. Mason, and his staff,
for all the help and co-operation they have given so willingly during the year.
SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICE
One of the most outstanding features of this year was the most difficult
conditions under which all dental staff have been working. Lack of surgery
assistants has placed a very severe strain, not only on dental officers, but on
those surgery assistants who are trying to do the work of two, three, or even
four people at one time. This is a direct result of the extremely low pay which
they receive.
During the year, many visitors from places as far apart as Burma, Indonesia,
Ireland, Kuwait, Malaysia and Thailand, including the Director of Dental Health
from Djakarta and the Deputy Chief of the State Dental Department, Kuwait came
to see the dental service. They were all recommended to come because of the
good name attained by the Hackney Dental Service.
Staff and premises are shared between the school and other priority services
so that everything concerning these aspects relates to both services.
However, the statistics only relate to school children. Comments on dentistry
for pre-school children, expectant and nursing mothers and the mentally handicapped
are to be found elsewhere in the report.
STAFF
At the end of the year there was a staff including the Principal School
Dental Officer, the Orthodontist and the Senior Dental Officer, of nine fulltime
and sixteen sessional Dental Officers, making a full-time equivalent of
14.7 within an establishment of sixteen. It is always pleasing to show such a
high rate of recruiting staff. The average age of full-time dental officers
was 47.9 years (46.8 in 1968) and of sessional dental officers, 34.5 years
(39.5). The overall average was 39.3 years (43). Hie tendency for the younger
dentists to join the service is an indication of the increased scope and standard.
Unfortunately, the Department lost one of its best full-timers who had
to move with her husband to another part of the country. Had she remained, the
average age would have been even lower. In addition to the above dentists, we
have a dental auxiliary. She has proved to be a very valuable asset, not only
in caring for the very young children, but also in conducting dental health
activities. Further recruits to this grade of worker would be welcomed, not in
place of dentists, but as additions to their team.