SCHOOLS’ DENTAL SERVICE

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3808, 21 June 1928, Page 3

SCHOOLS’ DENTAL SERVICE

LEVIN’S REQUEST FOR NURSES A deputation from district school committees, organised by the Levin District High School Committee, waited on the Minister of Health (Hon. J. A. Young) at Levin on 'Tuesday, and asked that either dental clinics be established in the principal centres on this coast, or that a substantial subsidy be granted to extend the Mackenzie scheme of dental service, which had been operating several years, and under which children were treated by local dentists at a cost of £1 pinhead per an urn paid by parents, the dentists guaranteeing dental fitness. In the course of his reply, the Minister said he did not entertain any hope of the latter proposal being agreed to, but would sympathetically consider the allotment of a dental nurse.. The Department had 84 nurses, and ten dental officers engaged, who were handling 55,000 children. There were fifi trainees in the school in Wellington, 30 of whom would be available next April if they qualified, but there were 200 applicants already for clinics. At the present rate of progress, it would Jake six years and a half to provide nurses for all the children in the State schools. An appreciable part of the work being done was nullified by subsequent neglect on the part of children and parents, and the Department would have lo consider whether it could allow other children to be kept: hack by those who did not. appreciate the benefits of free service.