DENTAL CLINIC SERVICE

Taranaki Daily News, 6 August 1934, Page 6

DENTAL CLINIC SERVICE

POSITION OF POOR PARENTS. RAISING FUNDS FOR TREATMENT. \ The quarterly meeting of the Eltham Dental Committee was held on Friday, Mr. J. Taylforth presiding. The position of children whose parents could not pay the fees was discussed. The dental nurse, Miss J. Welch, submitted the following report for the quarter: Total number of operations for May, 323; June, 361; July, 336. Children from the following schools were treated: Eltham and Convent, Kaponga and Convent, Finnerty Road, Awatuna, Mahoe, Matapu and Rawhitiroa. The secretary (Mr. Benefield) reported that the financial statement showed a balance of £2B 5s 4d after payment of accounts, and when reviewing the estimated . expenses of the remaining six months of the financial year, he said that the balance would be reduced to nil because £l5 was yet to be paid to the Health Department, and there was the amount of incidental expenses of £l3. He was of the opinion that fees for treatment would have to be paid by the parents, so that the clinic could be carried on.

“It seems to me that the system is wrong when a fee of 2s 6d is asked. There are numbers of parents who cannot afford the amount, and consequently the children suffer,” said Mr. Muggeridge. “There is a probability of the clinic being closed up for a month or two ; if there is not an increase in the number of patients. Is the nurse doing full time work?”

The secretary said he had no information as to the probability of the clinic being closed. The nurse was engaged all the time and often worked during the lunch hour in order to complete the number of treatments for the day, Mr. Muggeridge asked why the nurse was working one month in advance, and Mr. Benefield pointed out that this possibly was due to the effect of the number of absentees from schools through the prevailing sickness. The ruling was that if the payment of the fee for treatment was not made the first year the child was not allowed to receive further treatment.

Mr. Muggeridge said a number of parents could, not afford the fee and he thought that the welfare of the children should be the primary consideration. He moved “that the various school committees which were served by the clinic be communicated with, asking their opinion of the existing system; and suggesting that owing to the fact that numbers of parents were unable to pay the fee, that a change’ be made in the system, namely, that the school committees be asked to raise, funds to cover the cost of treatment, proportionate to the services rendered.” < The motion was seconded by Mrs. H. Clifford-Jones and carried. OHURA GOLF EVENTS FINALISED. McCLURE’S PRESIDENT’S TROPHY. W. McClure beat W. K. Williams at the 20th in the president’s handicap final at Ohura. A. L. Wakeford beat S. Stephenson 5 and 4 in the final of the captain’s trophy. Miss I. MacClure beat Miss Butcher 4 and 3 in the final of the women’s captain’s trophy. QUOITS COMPETITION. STRATFORD P. AND T. HANDICAP. At a quoit-throwing handicap competition held by the Stratford branch of the P. and T. Department at the week-end the following results were recorded: — First heat: Whyte (handicap 105) 1, Wills (50) 2, Boyle (40) 3, Cameron (60) 4. Six starters. Second heat: Richardson (50) 1, Anderson (60) 2, Dickie (70) 3. Seven starters. Filial; Whyte 1, Richardson 2, Wills 3. Whyte won by 18 from Richardson, >vith Wills, who made a late r;n, one away third. GENERAL ITEMS. Eltham Methodist Concert. A second performance was given last week by the Eltham Methodist concert party, the programme being similar to that given a few weeks ago. There was again a large attendance and the items were well received.