DENTAL CLINIC

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17233, 12 April 1930, Page 6

DENTAL CLINIC

PLANS TO CONTINUE COUNTRY SCHOOLS’ INTEREST KEEN CAMPAIGN PLANNED The attendance at Iffet evening’s meeting convened by His Worship the Mayor to discuss plans for broadcasting the appeal on behalf of the school dental clinic - did not argue a wide public interest on the subject, but those present were enthusiastic on the point of maintaining the clinic in operation. The matter was discussed from several angles, after which it was decided to publish a further appeal to tho citizens of Gisborne, pointing out the extent of tho work which the clinic has been doing, and the necessity for continuing that work. The Mayor, Mr. D. W. Coleman, presided over the meeting, and in his opening remarks commented that he had hoped to see a much larger attendance, in view of the fact that the health of the children one • of the most important considerations before . the public at any time. It was most disappointing to see such evidence of lack of interest. Some years ago, he reminded his hearers, the Department of Education had founded dental clinics at several schools, but the cost of maintaining them had become too great for the department to bear. Many people, including himself, believed that this. service was ope that should be maintained by the State, but it would be a thousand pities if the clinic was closed for want of local support, in view of the department’s attitude. ) Notice had been served that unless the maintenance of the clinic were taken over by a local committee, the service would be suspended, and the staff transferred. The combined school committees had taken the matter up, realising bow necessary the service had become, but their efforts to date to raise funds for the purpose had not been crowned with a great degree of success. The Mayor asked Mr. C. W. Muir to explain the situation from the point- of view of the dental clinic committee. A DENTIST’S COMMENDATION Mr. Muir apologised for the absence of Messrs. J, J. Jackson, H. R. Kendon, and R. G. Crawford, who had other engagements which prevented their attendance. Mr. Crawford had, he mentioned, spoken very strongly upon the proposal to dose the clinic down in the event of local support not being forthcoming. As a dentist, he realised very fully what the clinic had been doing, and what it would be capable of doing in the future. The committee estimated that a new clinic building would cost £360 for a two-nurse service, which could only deal with the children of the central and suburban schools once a year. With a three-nurse clinic, they would be able to go through the schools twice a year, and include the Awapuni school, which had not yet had the benefit of the clinic. The threenurse clinic would cost about £3OO, and of this the Government would find two-thirds, leaving the committee about £l7O to procure. If they could get, say, £4OO or £SOO together* they could pay their share of the building cost and have enough in hand for maintenance for five or six years. The director of dental hygiene had intimated recently, continued Mr. Muir, that tho department had applications for about 120 nurses in Various parts of the country, and he had been quite definite that if Gisborne could not find the money to maintain the clinic, tho nurses would be withdrawn and placed elsewhere. If that occurred, he added, it would be a disaster, fo- it would mean that natiy children now receiving periodical attention at the clinic would have to do without it, with the consequence that their health would inevitably suffer.

THK COMMITTEE'S OBLIGATION

ATr. Muir mentioned that the departnfiit would pay riisalaries of the nurses, ami ap.".. 1 ; fiom the costs of Ihe building and the :jiaHitenaii r e, the clinic, com mitt (*<• would not be called on for any further contribution. Jle sincerely hoped rail; ;h;s m-iting wouhl evolve some scheme to find the money to retain the clinic. The previous appeals, stated the speaker, had yielded about £52 in all. Mr. J. 0. Hardy declared that it would be a calamity for Gisborne if the dental nurses were taken away. His oniy suggestion by way of addition to what Mr. Muir had said was I liar they should consider taking in the M altar aka school —which could alinost be regarded as a suburban school now—and so broaden the scope of the clinic’s work. Mr. Hardy held that it was a project which should be taken up by the ladies of the community, for its importance was paramount in tho health of the children. He wished, he mentioned, that they had had a clinic years ago. The department was “easy” about whether the clinic remained open or was closed, at present, and many towns smaller than Gisborne desired to get the services of the dental nurses. Whakatane had lately established a clinic, and if Whakatane could run a clinic, surely Gisborne could, said Mr. Hardy. I £2so 01’ NO CLINIC. * Mr. C. \. Garre was of the opinion that if once they got the clinic built and in going order, they could bo 1 airlv sure that-it would not be closed. He suggested that the committee should set its goal at about £250, with the idea of getting the clinic properly established. If they aimed too, high, the public might be chary of subscribing, but if they went for >O, they would be likely to get it. I lie Mayor was inclined to endorse wha! Mr. Harro had suggested. He believed that i! they got the clinic going 1,1 its own building, they would have no difficulty in raising the, annual amount for mainlenam o. There had been many anneals made to the public lately, and it was certainly difficult to raise large sums 'd money foi' any purpose. He was in lavof o( ma' iiig flip goal about £250, for d they could get that and make a start, thev could be sure of keening the service going. On the other band, if they could not get £250, they could do nothing. 1 ’egret that the imblic bad not shown a more icmral interest in I lie matter was e.v net;ed hv .Mr It. IT. deCosta. He personally had triad to get in some money for the scheme, and one man had offered to give £25 if the sneaker could find seven others willing to give like unm’Mits.

“The public generally dees not seem to be nroperlv seized with the necessity of "uardine the health of the children," lemur 1 ed the Mavor \Mother soon '.er staled Ib-d (lie 150" 1 r-'dldr'.ii treated aiumallv in the town bv the nurses of the clinic, would represent :d least f/V' families, and it was hard to inuodne that so many parents could not p”t in enough money to keep the clinic going, among fliem. Mr. b”. Cook, who mentioned tlud lie bad come in from Te Kara’,a to attend the meeting; informed those prcseul that the Te k'eruka people were “breaking their necks’’ to get dental treatment in the schools. He suggested that the appeal should be extended to the count iv districts. lie thought that many country people would be big-

Hearted and long-sighted enough to help in the establishment of the clinic on a solid basis,, knowing that there would be no chance of their children getting the service for some years at least. Mr Cook suggested further that an appeal should tie made through the children themselves, for in the final resotir.se jthe parents would respond through their children, if the matter were put in the right light. A sale or display of school work, lor instance, womd be one way in which money could be made, and there were similar means of getting in money. Mr. Cook emphasised the. fact that criticism of the attitude of llte Government would do no good, but that, they must concentrate on getting in tbe money to keep the clinic going. COUNTRY PARENTS’ OPINIONS. Mr. I). 0. Beattie, chairman of the Ormond School Committee, was not at all optimistic, as to the chances of getting any financial support from the people of 1 1 is school district, as it was felt that the dental clinic was for llm benefit of the town children only. If they could devise some plan that would mean an extension of the. service to country oujiils. however, it would put an entirely different complexion on the matter, and £SCQ would not be too much to ask for. The Mayor remarked that lie was quite in accord with the view that dental treatment should he available to country children as well ns town children. But they must not lost sight of the fact that the immediate object was to retain the existing clinic. Later on there would be the opportunity to extend the work of the clinic, this being onp of the ultimate objects of the clinic committee. This view was generally endorsed. Mr H. H. DeGosta suggested that the Borough Council be asked for permission to conduct a street collection on a iven day. The Mavor pointed out that the first, tkn would be to form a committee of those present to organise another meetip'i ;,t which all members of interested school committees he invited to attend. On the motion of Mr. C. Harre, ii was d-'ided to form those present into a dental clinic committee, and that a further meeting be bold as suggested by the Mayor, and that, all schools not rcnnxsenlp'l on tbe committee at present In asked to send one or two delegates also. Mr. •). Middlemas. secretary of the Orpmnd P'dinol committee, was strong)v In f-M-ii.r of having country schools . ii"'id irised. with an invitation to send de 1 " ales to tbe ne v t »ieelii" r . It '"as explained that the motion (■(.■•''red that point. M". Middlemas asked whether it would b« possible to provide for a l"'omi'se rlini" in town, will) a travellim mire attached for the nurno'e of • ’■'citing the country school children. The swgpstion was deferred for consideration at the, later meeting. The date of Ibis meelin” was ]of| In the Mayor and Mr. C. W. Muir to arrange, and it was agreed that each of those present should do Ids utmost in the meaiiflmo to procure direct suhs riptions to the fund. ' • n'e of thanks to the Mayor concluded the meeting ANOTHER NURSE FOR HASTINGS 1 The Health Department yesterday advised the meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Kdiu-at ion Board that a second clinic nurse will be available at Hastings as soon as certain staff changes are completed.

In connection with providing dental clinic treatment for children at the Tutira and Waikari districts the Health Department advised that while it noted

with pleasure t hit t school committees won* willing lo arrange lor the transport of children lo the* Napier clinic, it was roll'd tod ;i t tin* present time, that it was not possible to* include any more children for treatment, as the clinic was already taxed to its utmost capacity. Mr. C. Sainsbury asked what the hoard was going to do about treating the country children. The members commented that it seemed all the boa id could do was to wait till more nurses were trained and made available to cope with the pupils in country areas. Mr. 11. S. M. Quigley saiil that ho was informed that tin* Health Department was training nurses with all possible speed, and releasing them for duty as soon as possible. • The letter was received without lurtlicr comment.