DENTISTRY AT THE HOSPITAL

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 48, 25 February 1921, Page 10

DENTISTRY AT THE HOSPITAL

TO IBS IDITOR. . Sir,—That the present staff of the dentil department of tho local hospital H totally inadequate to meet the demand* now made upon it by the public is not at all surprising. A .little investigation reveals tJio following position:—The staff as at present constituted consists of tho permanent and the honorary staffs. The permanent staff is made up of one regis tered dentist, one mechanic, and one attendant. The honorary staff is recruited from the members of the local branch of tho New Zealand Dental Association. The local branch has a membership of some 30 member?, of whom a very small number indeed are on tlie honorary staff. These fcembers attend at tho hospital for a couple of hours in the morning of one clay per month. No dentist outsido tho members of the local branch is on tho honorary staff. Tho dental department is designed to afford relief to necessitous persons who cannot afford to pay tha high fees asked by private practitioners. To ensure treatment for all ( thoso actuslly in sore need of it will require a much different method in staffing to maintain the present usefulness and to meet the increased demands whichs will be made upon it in the future. It should not bo under the control of the Hospital Board, but should be controlled directly by the Public Health Department, which should be responsible for the staff. It could be staffed on lines Similar, to the State school nurses scheme, but at much less cost to the country if some of the unregistered -assistants were recruited and whose services would bo immediately available. The primary consideration in tho welfare of a nation should be its health, and it has amply been proved that the better tho teeth, the better the health. The present affords the' State an excellent opportunity of undertaking this important national work, ;nd ( it is hoped that'more than merely a passing interest will, bs taken on the leport by the Hospital Board of its "inadequate staff."—l am, .etc, , K.

24th February.