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18
EXTRACTS FROM THE ANNUAL REPORT OF DR. H. C. PRICE,
CHEST PHYSICIAN, FULHAM CHEST CLINIC, 1955
"The routine work of the clinic continued unabated during the year, there being a slight
increase in the number of new patients seen, 441 compared with 417 in the previous year.
This increase was reflected in a rise in the total attendances from 6,848 to 7,711.
Changes in Methods of Treatment
If these figures are broken down further however it will be observed that certain changes
have taken place in the character of the work compared with previous years. It will be seen
that as a result of the better use of drug therapy and the continuing reluctance to use minor
collapse therapy the total attendances at the refill clinics fell from 2,878 to 2,172
Case Finding
During the summer the Hospital Management Committee carried out certain minor structural
alterations to the clinic, enabling the Mobile X-ray Unit to attend for one or two day
sessions at fairly regular intervals with the co-operation of Dr. Nash, the Director of the
Mass X-ray Unit. At these sessions it has been possible to x-ray expectant mothers,
patients referred by local general practitioners, those school leavers who were found to
have a positive mantoux on examination, and similar special groups of the population at
risk. Now that the mass X-ray Unit is based at the Western Hospital this service can continue
either at the clinic or at the hospital. The fall in the incidence of pulmonary
tuberculosis is making it increasingly difficult to discover new cases and it will be
necessary in the future to step up rather than slow down our case finding activities if we
are to complete the eradication of tuberculosis from the community.
Treatment Facilities
The tendency for more patients to be treated in hospital rather than in their own
homes, noted in the report for 1954, has continued during the year. The easing of the bed
situation makes it so that in most instances it is possible to admit patients of either sex
with the least possible delay to a hospital bed, either to the Western Hospital in Seagrave
Road, or King George V Chest Hospital, Godalming. This situation has had an excellent
effect on the morale both of the patients and the staff.
After Care and Rehabilitation
The scheme for domiciliary diversional therapy started in 1954 has continued and proved
to be extremely satisfactory. Whilst it is true that there are now fewer patients receiving
treatment at home there are still a large number of patients on full or partial bed rest
who are not receiving active chemotherapy for these the regular visit of the diversional
therapist, greatly assists in their rapid rehabilitation
The L. C, C. Hostel at Hurlingham Lodge for chronic sputum positive homeless men con -
tinued to do an excellent job of work, although the number of places is still inadequate to
cover the need. There is also a need for a similar hostel for young females particularly
for those who have migrated to London from the provinces, Eire, and the Colonies and have no
relatives in London ......
Preliminary Survey of Chronic Bronchi tics
In an attempt to discover methods of neutralizing the adverse effects of sulphur
dioxide pollution, a pilot survey was carried out at the chest clinic during the winter of
1955-56 in which patients known to be suffering from chronic bronchitis were maintained in
an atmosphere of approximately one part per million of ammonia vapour. Considerable relief
was obtained, especially from bronchospasm. This trial will be continued as a full scale
research project during the winter of 1956-57 and further studies will be carried out into
the causation and development of chronic bronchitis.