Dental school’s closing attacked

Press, 23 October 1980, Page 21

Dental school’s closing attacked

PA Wellington The Government’s decision to close the Auckland and Christchurch ■ dental schools: by. 1982 has been attacked by Labour s Shadow < Minister of Health, Mr F. D. O’Flynn. He said that he found it unbelievable that a twothirds bite could be justified so soon. While it was true that the ' gradual spread of fluoridation had improved dental health, only 55 per cent of New Zealand’s population.h&d.access to a fluoridated public water supply-. ■ This had -only been reached gradually and it was hard-to see how it could justify a sudden reduction ' of - two-thirds in the training facilities for dental nurses. “Such a reduction must reduce recruitment to the service by, <two-thirds m about two years, .which is the length of . the course. Over the ensuing years the number of nurses employed must continue to fall’more and more rapidly," he said. .

“Long before they reach one-third of present numbers it will become increasingly difficult to provide service to 2000 or more primary and intermediate schools throughout New Zealand." Such changes should be made gradually, particularly when unemployment was’ high and rising. The closing of the two schools was also criticised by the New Zealand Working Women’s Council. The convener, Miss Saridi Beatie, expressed concern in a telegram to Mr Gair about the rising trend of ending jobs employing mostly women. She . asserted that the decision was prompted by dentists’ not wanting the school dental service to expand; and as a result, children would not receive adequate care. ‘ "The’ Council asked that the. 'decision ‘ be "deferred while 7 a joint; working party looked-into the future the "service and the employment of the skilled wQjn’eh in dental. health ■-•work.- —'. -7,. 7A ' 1