SCHOOL DENTAL CLINIC.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3000, 18 February 1926, Page 3

SCHOOL DENTAL CLINIC.

On behalf of the local District High School Committee, the Rev. W. H Walton and Mr. J. K. Hornblow waited upon the. assistant-director of the department which controls the scliol dental clinics in respect to the scheme which is to operate at the local school next month. The deputation explained that when the departmental scheme was inaugurated, Foxton was asked whether it would avail itself of the scheme and if so to state whether a suitable room would be available at the school. The committee replied that a room would be. available, but nothing further had been done for the reason that the department could not provide nurses for the work. The committee subsequently investigated the scheme adopted by the Levin school committee, which is carried out by a qualified dentist. That scheme, it was pointed out, met with the approval of the director of school dental clinics and was subsidised by the department. The local committee decided to inaugurate a similar scheme and the deputation asked to be supplied ■ with the necessary equipment as would be supplied if a nurse were appointed, and if possible to be given a grant-in-aid. The assistant director, in reply, said to do what was asked would be to create a precedent, although he expressed sympathy with the proposal. Owing to the shortage of nurses it bad been impossible to send one to Foxton. If the committee entered into an arrangement with a qualified dentist it could be done on a business basis, between the parties. The departmental scheme did not cover the woik which would be undertaken by a qualified dentist, but it got the children into the dental habit and prevented serious after troubles. He promised to review the request and to communicate his ■ decision without delay. The deputation were unable to interview the Minister of Education, as he was out of Wellington. It is the committee’s intention to put the dental clinic into operation next month.