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129
There are still a number of patients awaiting rehousing mainly
those suffering from bronchitis and asthma, whose unsatisfactory
housing is considered to play a part in making their symptoms
worse. It is known that dampness in the house or surroundings tends
to increase the symptoms especially in those suffering from allergic
respiratory disease as well as bronchitis and the anxiety associated
with inadquate housing also accentuates the condition.
Miss Moncur, the Occuptional Therapist, continues to encourage
and assist a number of our home-bound patients who are
disabled as a result of tuberculosis and other chronic respiratory
disease and this considerably improves the morale of these patients.
Non-tuberculous chest disease
The attention of Chest Physicians has in recent years been
directed to the other major chest condition, chronic bronchitis, which
is now responsible for far more disability than pulmonary tuberculosis.
Many of these patients attend the Chest Clinic regularly and
their assessment is carried out at the Respiratory Unit of the Brook
Hospital with which we have a close liaison. A register of the more
seriously disabled patients is kept at the Chest Clinic so that
follow-up supervision with a special watch for the onset of respiratory
failure is kept. At the same time advice about the many problems
concerning employment, housing, financial difficulties, etc., is
given.
Asthma
An Asthma Clinic has been started for treatment of these
patients with a view to trying to prevent permanent respiratory disability
which sometimes results and which can often be prevented
by suitable treatment at an early stage.
The diagnosis of many other chest conditions, including carcinoma
of the lung, continues.