3182
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 82

CHAPTER XVI.—MEDICAL.

390. Dental Treatment.—Necessary operative dental treatment is allowable at the public expense to all Naval and Royal Marine personnel of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, and to officers and men of the Naval Reserve Forces while under training in H.M. ships or Establishments of the New Zealand Division.

391. Dental treatment at the public expense is not to be afforded to Reserve personnel undergoing training unless such treatment is necessitated by a casualty occasioned on duty during the period of training. Where Reserve personnel are permitted to perform prolonged periods of training—e.g., six months—and dental treatment becomes necessary during that period, the facts should be represented to the Naval Board before authority is given for treatment, other than that occasioned by a casualty on duty, to be performed at the public expense.

392. Officers and men employed under mercantile conditions in Royal Fleet auxiliaries, &c., are not entitled to treatment at the expense of Naval funds unless they have had their teeth or jaws injured on duty as the result of an accident attributable to the service. In such cases, provided the injury was reported at the time of its occurrence and there is satisfactory evidence that the accident was attributable to the service, necessary operative treatment may be undertaken, and the cost of treatment necessitated by the injury will be borne from New Zealand funds. Where, in addition to the treatment actually necessitated by the injury, it is desired to remedy pre-existing dental defects, the patient will be liable for the additional expense involved.

393. Attention is drawn to the requirements of King’s Regulations and Admiralty Instructions, Article 1441, on the administration of a general anaesthetic.

394. The Admiralty Fleet Orders governing dental treatment as issued from time to time apply generally to the New Zealand Division.

395. Names and addresses of dentists to whom ranks and ratings should be sent at the different ports on the station are given in the Station Order Book.

396. Dental Treatment, Claims for.—Ranks and ratings requiring dental treatment at Government expense are to be furnished with the written authority of the Medical Officer of the ship, addressed to the Dental Surgeon undertaking the dental repairs of the Naval personnel.

397. In the case of the supply of dentures to ratings at the public expense the written authority of the Medical Officer is to accompany the claim when rendered in accordance with the following paragraph:—

In arriving at a decision as to whether a denture should or should not be so supplied, regard should be had to the duration of a man’s engagement. Dentures will not be supplied to officers at the public expense except when necessitated by a casualty of the service.

3. The Dental Surgeon should be requested to chart all treatment on N.Z. Form No. 60, which is to be retained on board and sent with the patient whenever subsequent treatment is necessary. The Dental Surgeon should be further requested to fill in details of treatment on Form 44 in respect of each person dealt with, together with charges for work undertaken. These forms are to be collected by the Medical Officer, who is to certify thereon that the claims are correct. They are to be supported by a schedule on Form Ty. 39, also certified by the Medical Officer, and forwarded through the Accountant Officer to Navy Office, where, after examination and approval by the Director of Dental Services, payment will be made.

4. The Royal Naval Form S. 31, Account of Dental Treatment, is replaced in the New Zealand Division by N.Z. Form No. 44.

5. Medical Report on an Officer or Rating prior to Discharge (Form N.Z. 50).—Prior to final discharge to the shore of an officer, petty officer, or man (whether belonging to the New Zealand Division permanently, on loan, or New Zealand Royal Naval Reserve), he is to be examined by the Medical Officer of the ship or establishment, to determine whether he suffers from any disability either attributable to or aggravated by his naval service. Except in the case of invaliding, N.Z. Form 50 is to be completed at this examination, signed by the Commanding Officer prior to discharge of the officer or man concerned, and forwarded to Navy Office.

6. Medical officers are to exercise the greatest care in filling in the form to see that all details are furnished correctly. Questions 6 to 9 are to be answered in such a manner that the Naval Board will be in a position, on reference to the form, to know the exact nature of any disability, and the condition of such at the time of examination.

7. In cases of officers and men who, after service in the Royal Navy, are discharged to the shore from the New Zealand Division, a copy of the above form is required by the Admiralty. The form in such cases should be prepared and forwarded to Navy Office in duplicate.