DENTAL CLINICS

Grey River Argus, 4 March 1937, Page 5

DENTAL CLINICS

School Service J HON'. P. TEASER’S STATEMENTS. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON. March 2. The Minister for Health (Hon. P. Eraser) announced to-day that arrangements had been maide 'to acquire a lease of . “The Mansions”. Ghuznee Street, Wellington, for the purpose of providing hostel accommodation for . g trainees for dental clinics. It is the intention of ’the Government 'to ex- j pand the school dental service as rap. t idly as possible so that it will be j available for all primary schools of j the Dominion, within the next few. , years. At the present time the ser. 1 vice is in operation at 252 centres and ] pupils of 1600 schools, numbering in all about 85,000 are under regular . supervision, receiving periodical treat, ment at the school (dental clinics. At least double t’he present staff will be required to complete the service, to be in operation within live years. “One of the most important, steps in the development of the Govern. ' mentis programme,” said Mr. Fraser, “will be the erection in Wellington of a new dental clinic where all the most modern facilities will be provid. ed : for the treatment of children ana the training of school dental nurses The preparation of plans is now well advanced, and it is anticipated that tenders for the erection will be invited witliln the next, few weeks. As a temporary measure, the Ministerial residence in Tinakori Road will be put ■ into use in April as an annex to the existing clinic at Government buildings ■ The increased staff of dental nurses for Wellington and the opening of the annex in Tinakori Road will represent the ' completion of the first stage in the carrying out of the Government’s programme. ye n T should see a start, made with 'ehe establishment of new clinics nn the fieand the extension of the school service to new districts. Thereafter n ew clinics will be established' eaen year until the children of all P TI W Schools, and as far as possible, child- ' ‘ ien of pre-school age are .provided fox?- *•— l — i --