DENTISTRY AT SCHOOLS

Taranaki Daily News, 8 July 1930, Page 9

DENTISTRY AT SCHOOLS

SCOPE OF THE CLINICS. STATEMENT BY MINISTER. The policy of the Health Department regarding the treatment of pupils of private schools at dental clinics was questioned at a meeting of the Auckland Education Board on Wednesday, when Mr. E. C. Banks tabled correspondence referring to the position at the Matamata dental clinic. The matter was raised as a result of complaints that children attending a private school at Matamata had been admitted for dental treatment at the Matamata clinic prior to pupils of neighbouring schools which had contributed toward the cost of the clinic. The board referred the complaints to the Minister of Health, and a reply was received that no children other than those of State schools had so far been included for treatment, nor had the inclusion of any private school been authorised by the Health Department. “This does not agree with the facts,” said Mr. Banks, who is chairman of the Matamata dental clinic committee. He said that in a small booklet issued by the former Minister of Health a policy had been outlined as follows: “For the present, at least, no school other than a State school can be treated. Requests for treatment have been received from private schools. It is not a question of the nurse being able to do the work, but a question of the policy of the department. It is certain that if a precedent were established the Government would be faced with demands from private schools of all descriptions all over the Dominion. As soon as the State schools are covered it is intended to carry the service. further, so that no children are untouched by it.” Mr. Banks continued that the inspector of dental clinics had visited Matamata and the following advice had been received by the committee from the nurse in charge: “I have been instructed by the inspecting dental officer to notify you that all schools are now eligible for treatment at school dental clinics, and he suggests that arrangements should be made for the private school in the district to join the clinic group.” Shortly afterwards the following letter was received from the director of the dental hygiene division: “The policy of eventually extending dental treatment to all children of the Dominion has been expedited by the present Government to the extent that the primary departments of private schools are now eligible for inclusion in dental groups on the same basis as State schools. Subject to suitable financial arrangements being arrived at between the authorities of the private school and your committee, the children of the Matamata private school will be eligible for treatment under the usual conditions.” The chairman, Mr. A. Burns, said it was a question of what constituted the policy of the department and from whom instructions were to be taken. Mr. Banks said the Matamata clinic committee was at present treating only the children of State schools. It was decided to forward copies of the correspondence to the Minister of Health.