DENTAL-CLINICS EXTENSION

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 40, 3 March 1937, Page 7

DENTAL-CLINICS EXTENSION

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New Hostel & Training Centre i to be Built j STAFF NEEDS DOUBLING 0 . — — 1

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WELLINGTON, Last Night. The Minister oi Health (Hon. P. Fraser)' announced to-day that arrangeiments had heen made to acquire the jlease of "The Mansions," Ghuznee igtreet, Wellington, for the purpoae ofproviding hostel aocommodation for trainees of dental clinics. It is the intention of the Government to expand the school dental Bervice as rapidly as .possible so that it will be available for all the primary schools of the Dominion within the next few years. At the present time the service is in operation in 252 centres and pupils of 1600 sehools numbering in all some 85,000 are under regular supervision receiving periodical treaxment at school; dental elinics. At least double the present staif will be required to completethe service, and it is the intention of the Government to concentrate on training sufficient dental nurses to enable a complete service to be in operation within five years. One of the most important steps in the development of tne Government 's programme, said Mr. Fraser, will be the erection in Wellington of a new dental clinic where all the most mOdern facilities will be provided for the treatment of children and traimng school dental nurses. The preparation of plans is now well advaneed and it is antieipalod that tenders fof the erection will be invited within the next few weeks. As a temporary measure the Ministerial residence at Tinakori road will be put into use in April as an annex to the existing clinic at the Government buildings. The inqreased staif of dental nurses for 1 Wellington and the opening of the annex in Tinakori road will represent the completion of the first stage in carrying out the Government 's gramme.Next year should see a commencement made with the establishment of new clinics in the field and the exten•sion of the school dental service to new districts. Thereafter new clinics will he established each year until children of all primary schools and as far as possiblfe children of pre-school age are provided for.