DENTAL CLINIC

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 58, Issue 4188, 24 May 1939, Page 11

DENTAL CLINIC

FACILITIES IN OUTLYING DISTRICTS. MR BROADFOOT’S INQUIRIES. Recently Mr W. J. Broadfoot, M.P., for Waitomo, 'has interested himself in the provision of dental services for the children who reside in the outlying districts, particularly with regard to the position of Kawhia. Mr Broadfoot has represented the claims of a wide area of country embracing Marakopa, Awamarino, Piripiri, Kinohaku, Hauturu, Oparau, Te Rau-a-moa, Whareorino and Makomako. He has placed the position before the Minister of Health, Hon. P. Fraser, who has asked to be further informed of the schools or localities referred to, so that inquiry can be mado as to the possibility of the childrdh concerned being afforded dental treatment at an early date at one of the dental clinics already established. Mr had, however, suggested a mobile clinic which could move about and so save the necessity for parents to travel with the children. On this proposal the Minister explains that a mobile clinic is more expensive than a stationary one. In the event of a mobile clinic a local committee must accept the following responsibilities in addition to the usual financial responsibilities of a stationary clinic: (1) The initial cost of a trailer type of mobile dental clinic would be approximately £550, thie whole of which would have to be found by the committee concerned, as no subsidy would be payable by the Government. (2) It is estimated that haulage from one school to another would cost approximately £5O per annum. (3) The committee would be regarded as the owners of thie clinic, and would therefore be responsible for insurance and maintenance.

The Minister also points to the difficulty of accommodation for the dental nurse. Before approval can be given for any further mobile dental clinics, consideration will have to be given to the supplying of the officer in charge with a motor car or the payment of a mileage allowance. This additional cost to the Department will have to be passed on to the committee.