Feilding Schools' Dental Clinic

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 84, 10 April 1935, Page 3

Feilding Schools' Dental Clinic

UUm'RUJLiIiiNG UUIVUMIXXL E’ B REPORT.

At the annual meeting last evening of tho committee controlling the Feilding and District Public Schools' dental clinic tho following report on tho past year’s activities was presented by the chairman, Mr G. J. Fitzpatrick:—

‘ ' Schools whose children are receiving dental treatment at tho clinic were asked to send delegates to the meeting because the committee feel that it is ime all the school committees were given the opportunity of obtaining full knowledge of tho working of the clinic and the business of the clinic committee. Further, there are some matters upon which it is advisable that the school committees should express their views and take the responsibility of decision.

“The following schools are now included in tho clinic: Awaliuri, Bcaconsficld, Bunnythorpe, Colyton, Cheltenham, Dunolly, Halcombe, Kimbolton, Kiwitca, Kopane, .Kakariki, Lytton Street, Manchester Street, Makino Road, Mt. Biggs, Stanway, Taonui, Tokorangi, Tapuac, Waituna West, in addition, there are a number of under school age children. Tho total number of children receiving treatment at November 30 last was 776. During the year several new schools were added to the list. *

“The Health Department’s regulations provide, we believe, that a maximum of 650 children as patients is the limit of what is expected of one dental nurse. Our clinic’s total exceeded this figure by close on 100, two years ago, and the department decided that a second nurse must be appointed for part time. Several schools in tn country had applied for inclusion in tho clinic, and the committee placed the applications before the department with tho result that these additional schools were included. It was agreed that as a second nurse must bo appointed in any case, the work might as well be extended. The committee are very pleased that additional schools and more children arc thus receiving the benefit of the service, though it has to be said that the expense of tho clinic has materially increased and the committee’s responsibilities also. This leads to the matter of finance. When tho clinic was established it w r as laid down by the department that the local committee must find and furnish the rooim. and pay Uie charges for electricity, charing, and laundry work. Three years ago Ihe department decided that £3O a year additional charge towards the department’s expenses must be found by the committee. Even this'extra fee, which nearly doubled the expenses of tho clinic, was not a. heavy load, and it was only when the second nurse was appointed that your committee began to be exercised about its finances. We regretted it was necessary to increase the levies on the school committees, but of course there was no other course open to us. In the case of children coming for treatment for the first time, the charge was fixed at 2s Od for the year, and in all other cases the highest charge has been 2s. Members of school committees will agree that this is a very reasonable fee. Your committee estimates that the average treatment received is worth £2 a year, and believes the department places a much higher figure as tlio average. In any event it is a good deal more than 2s, and we are satisfied the service is worth all tho trouble taken. Every care has been taken to keep down the expenses of the clinic, as tho committee recognise they are trustees for other people’s money, and we think it is possible to make little reduction in the cost of maintaining the clinic, though the matter requires investigation. “In connection with the finances, your Committee would point out that tho Public Schools Sports’ Association gives to the clinic committee each year tho refreshment rights at tho sports. The work of catering for luncheons, etc., has been done by the ladies of tho two Feilding School Committees, and the Feilding schools have received the benefit. The profits amount to Is per child of the local schools receiving treatment, as near as cau be calculated and the effect is that parents of Feilding children are asked to pay Is per child, instead of 2s as paid by country children. The committee desires the annual meeting to discuss the question whether or not the whole district should take over these privileges and share the benefits. It will be observed by 'the financial statement that tha* total cost of the committee of the clinic for the year was about £9O. If all children are charged 2s and the Clinic Committee takes over the refreshment rights, which produce about £l7 or £lB, the total receipts would be about sufficient for their purpose. Otherwise, it will be necessary to increase the levy on all parents. The sports’ refreshments money comes in at the beginning of the year and this provides a working credit. This is very convenient. Last year, it was necessary to advance money to tohe funds to meet the monthly expenses, and we feel sure the school committees do not desire this. It would be advisable to build up a reserve fund for the better handling of tho clinic finances. It might,be as well to mention that the school committee in each case is responsible for collecting the levies and paying them to the Clinic Committee. To dfite, several committees have not met their liabilities for the year Just closed. “We conclude this report with our acknowledgments to tho nurses, particularly Nurse Wimsetf, and the officers of the department for their help and co-operation,’’