School closing ‘realistic move’

Press, 23 October 1980, Page 4

School closing ‘realistic move’

PA Wellington The Minister of Health (Mt Gait) has defended the Government's decision to dose two dental nurse training schools and has accused the Public service Association of creating unnecessary worry amongst dental nurses.

Mr Gait dismissed the P.SA.’s assertion that the Government was committed to destroying the school dental service, lie said that the Government’s policy had not changed since 1976. the aim was for the school dental service to continue to provide a high standard of dental care for all pre-school, primary, and intermediate school children, he said.

Mr Gair said the proposed closing of the training

schools in .Auckland and Christchurch was ’ simply a realistic move in the light of falling school rolls and reduced treatment needs through improved dental health. . “There are how some ill nurses on special leave without pay and another 309 former school dental nurses wanting to return to employment,” he said, “if the intakes to training are not cut, there would be a serious oversupply of trained dental nurses for whom there would be no employment." . : , Mr Galt said he could categorieailysay that-the Government had no intention of handtag over pre-school, primary, and intermediate school dental services to private practitioners.