DENTAL CLINIC

Grey River Argus, 23 September 1932, Page 3

DENTAL CLINIC

Greymouth Committee A meeting of the Greymouth Dental Clinic Committee was held in the Main School last evening when there were present: Messrs R. A. Barrowman (chairman), O, 11. Brailsford. U. J. Mettrick, A. M. Carroll, J. Gallaher, Rev. Father Long, Mrs J. M. Reeves and the secretary, Mr J. C. 11. McDonald. The Canterbury Education Board and the District Supervisor of Dent'd Hygiene wrote approving of the Committee’s amended plans for the proposed extension of the Clinic. The Chairman said that they had had a little humbug owing to the delay in the receiving of the approval from the Health and Education Departments, but it had now come to hand and everything was in order. The District Supervisor of Dental Hygiene (Mr A. D. Brice) wrote regarding the collection of the levy that had been decided upon to meet the liabilities of the Clinic. He suggested that the position should be explained to the nurses, for, although they were not permitted to collect money, they could help in various ways. He fur- . ther suggested that the following circular letter be sent to parents or guardians of patients at present being treated:— “In order to meet the increased liabilities of the School Dental Clinic, due to the appointment of a second nurse, together with the Government’s charge, imposed last year, of £3O per annum for each operator, the Dental Clinic Committee has decided to exercise its power to make an annual charge of 2s (id for every child treated at the clinic (with a maximum charge of 5s per family). It is confidently expected that parents will show their appreciation of the work done for their children and co-operate with the committee in maintaining the excellent dental service by prompt payment of the levy. In addition to the above-mentioned charges, the immediate extension of the present building is necessary in order to provide accommodation for the second nurse recently appointed. Lighting, heating, cleaning and laundry expenses have also to be met by the Committee. Your subscription for the year ended 31st March, 1933, is now due and payment may be made to the class teacher. Failure to pay the charge within thirty days from the above date will result in treatment being withdrawn. Parents unable to meet this charge should make immediate application in writing to the

Committee who may at their discretion remit the whole or any part of the charge.” He further suggested that a supply of the circulars should be given to the nurses who would give them to each new patient at tho same time as the consent form. Also that the nurses should be supplied with a list of those paid or exempted and instructed to treat only those on the list. The Secretary said that he had devised a system of collection that he thought would be preferable to keeping books. He suggested that they should have an ordinary card index with the name and particulars of eact) child and the dates of payment on each card, alphabetically arranged. Tlje cards would last throughout the children’s school time and the index would be accessible to the nurse ar all times, who would thus know who had paid and who had not. The teachers would collect the levy and would be provided with receipt books and periodically the index could be brought up-to-date. He had found that the cost of receipt books would be 455, cards 35s per 1000, and the circular letters £1 10s per 1000. It was decided to adopt the method outlined by the District Supervisor of Dental Hygiene and the Secretary. Permission was granted the secretary to purchase the necessary stationery and he was instructed to send out the circular. The Dental Nurses’ reports were as follows: Nurse K. M. Thomson (June) —Total number of operations 458. total attendances 132, now patients 35. Nurse P. M. Samways (June) —Operations 395, attendances 90. new patients 13. Nurse Thomson (July)—Operations 452, attendances 120, new patients 34; August —Operations 41S, attendances 94, new patients 1. Nurse F. E. Janies—Operations 391, attendances 125, new patients 21. The reports were eeceived as satisfactory. Mrs Reeves reported that the head teacher at the Blakctown School was exceedingly pleased with the work being done at the Clinic. The tenders for the extension of the Clinic were then opened, but owing to a misunderstanding, as the result of which eight of the tenderers submitted prices for labour only and three for the who 1 iol>. it was decided that no lender i t . • : <l, and that the secretary call fresh tenders for the whole job. including painting, at an early date.