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22
THE SOUTH WEST LONDON MASS X RAY SERVICE
FULHAM - 1956
SUPPLIED BY COURTESY OF DR. F.A. NASH, MEDICAL DIRECTOR
During 1956 Mobile Units of the South West London Mass X-Ray Service provided chest
x-ray facilities for the employees of 9 firms and organisations in the Borough, during
which a total of 2,616 people were x-rayed and 18 cases referred to chest clinics with a
radiologically significant lesion, probably tuberculous, requiring further investigation
In addition, 3 separate visits were made to the Fulham Chest Clinic where 670 contacts
were examined, from which 2 cases were referred to chest clinics with a radiologically
significant lesion, probably tuberculous, requiring further investigation
In April the Headquarters of the South West London Mass X-Ray Service were transferred
from the Grove Hospital, Tooting, to the Western Hospital, Seagrave Road, Fulham:
and in September a Mass X-Ray Centre was opened there to provide facilities for doctors'
patients, contacts, organised parties from firms and organisations and members of the
public on four days per week By the end of the year 5,061 examinees had attended and
40 cases had been referred to chest clinics with a radiologically significant lesion,
probably tuberculous, requiring further investigation
A special campaign was initiated in October with the object of persuading all male
residents in the Borough, in the age group 45 +, to be x-rayed. 5,428 letters were
addressed personally to men selected from the Register of Electors, as a result of which
585 attended of whom 445 were in the 45 + age group and 394 of them were 45 + and not
previously x-rayed. This campaign is continuing throughout 1957.
EXTRACTS FROM THE ANNUAL REPORT OF DR. H. C. PRICE,
CHEST PHYSICIAN, FULHAM CHEST CLINIC, 1956
The number of new notifications of pulmonary tuberculosis during the year rose from
30 to 63.
The number of new patients referred to the clinic this year rose from 441 for 1955
to 518. Of these, 237 were referred for non-tuberculous diseases compared with 157 for
the previous year
A further illustration of the increasing emphasis on non-tuberculous patients is
shown by a comparison of the attendance figures, those for tuberculous cases numbering
2,843 compared with 2,790 for 1955 - an increase of 53, whereas the attendances for the
non-tuberculous patients rose from 627 to 922, an increase of 295
The total attendance figure has fallen from 7,711 to 7,588, in spite of the increased
number of patients seen, due to the steady decrease in the number of patients attending
the artificial pneumothorax refill sessions, as the figure has dropped from 2,172 to
1,330 - a fall of 842 - for these sessions.
The Changing Face of the Chest Clinic
The most significant change in this year's report is the very considerable reduction
in the number of attendances at the refill clinics, a trend which was already apparent in
1955 but which has become more marked during 1956 when no artificial pneumothoraces were
advised and only six patients had pneumoperitoneums induced.