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The clinic is held in the out-patient department of the hospital. The advantage of this arrangement has already
become apparent, for the advice and help of the surgeons, gynaecologists, pathologists, neurologists, dentists, etc.,
are more easily obtainable than would be the case in an isolated clinic. There is, however, a possible disadvantage
that the clinic had to be organised in a pre-existing building and only two rooms were available. Patients are first
seen in a large consulting room in which cubicles have been curtained off for examination and special treatments.
Massage and electrical treatments are given in a small room, which though under the supervision and control of
the staff, is not directly attached to the department. Wax baths are arranged for in a special room adjacent to
the clinic.
The department is open on Wednesday mornings for women and Friday afternoons for men. It is under the
charge of one of the honorary physicians on the staff of the hospital, supported by a chief assistant. The interest
that this clinic has aroused is shown by the fact that in spite of the short time that it has been in existence six
other medical men from London and the provinces, interested in, and with a knowledge of, the investigation and
treatment of chronic rheumatism are already giving their services. Thus, on Fridays, there are three or four, and,
on Wednesdays, as many as five doctors working in the department. If more accommodation had been available
the ofler of several further workers could have been accepted.
The advantage of this arrangement is self-evident. In the first place more time can be devoted to each
individual patient. Secondly, in difficult and obscure cases, opportunity is given for a combined discussion as to the
best treatment to be adopted. Thirdly, it enables treatments such as the manufacture of moulded plaster splints
which normally consume too much time to be carried out at out-patient sessions to be provided at the time of
attendance, thereby saving the necessity for an additional journey to the hospital.
The sisters in charge of the massage and of the out-patient departments have been extremely helpful both
in the arrangement and running of the clinic. In the consulting room two nurses have been found necessary to
assist the medical staff in special treatments, and in the massage department five trained masseuses are in
attendance.
Apart from Kensington, the majority of patients are drawn from the nearby boroughs of Hammersmith,
Fulham and Chiswick, but doctors have sent cases for consultation from as far afield as Sittingbourne and
Marlborough.
The following figure shows the steady rise in attendance since May of last year.
Patients are seen in the first instance only at the request of their private doctors or if referred from another
department of the West London hospital. Every effort is made to keep the doctor informed of the treatment
and progress of his patient.