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EXTRACTS FROM THE ANNUAL REPORT OF DR, H.C, PRICE. CHEST PHYSICIAN,
FULHAM CHEST CLINIC. 1954.
Trends in Tuberculosis.
Notifications. There has been an increased fall this year in the
number of notified cases referred to the Clinic, - 120 compared with
172 in 1953, - when there had been a smaller drop compared with the
previous year. This comparison is not a fair one, since in 1953 a
mass x-ray unit visited the Borough, but did not do so during 1954.
However these figures do emphasise the important role played by mass
miniature radiography in diagnosing Pulmonary Tuberculosis.
Deaths. The number of deaths rose from 24 in 1953 to 33 in the
current year; this was due mainly to the number of deaths occurring
in old chronic cases whose lives had been prolonged by the extensive
use of chemotherapy.
Looking for Tuberculosis.
The usual stream of contacts and observation cases referred by
local doctors has continued, although the tempo has been a little less
at times owing to the absence from the Borough of the main seeker-out
of Tuberculosis - the mass miniature radiography unit. The yield
that ensues from the periodic activities of such a unit in reducing the
still large reservoir of undiscovered active cases of Tuberculosis in
the population, is the answer to those who now say that Tuberculosis
has been largely wiped out. It is hoped that the siting of a mass
x-ray unit in the Clinic grounds in the very near future will ease this
serious situation. During the year the laboratory has been closed
down except for the Thursday evening Clinic. This is a retrograde
step, - the result of the general policy of economy in the Health
Service.
Treatment.
For the first time in many years the number of attendances at the
artificial pneumothorax refill sessions has fallen. The number of
patients being treated in their homes has declined rapidly during the
year; this is due to the greater number of general hospital beds now
available, and the more rapid turnover of patients under modern methods
of chemotherapyo The continued reduction in the waiting period for
hospital and sanatorium beds has greatly assisted the work of the
Clinic in so far as patients can now, in the main, be admitted at once
when their clinical state demands it. However the waiting period for
major surgery is still far too long.