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CHEST CLINICS
There are three Chest Clinics in the Borough, situated at Bermondsey Health
Centre, the Health Services Department Larcom Street and St. Giles Hospital. The
Chest Clinic situated at Bermondsey Health Centre transferred to St. Olave's Hospital
on 23 August, 1971. The Council provides health visitors, social workers, occupational
therapists and administrative staff.
Advice and assistance were given to patients with personal, domestic, occupational
and hygiene problems. Domiciliary visits were made and extra nourishment in
the form of milk, butter and eggs was given to necessitous cases on the recommendation
of the Chest Physicians. 12 cases were assisted, compared with 16 in 1970.
The voluntary care committees continued to provide assistance with items such
as clothing, bedding and holidays to patients who did not qualify for extra assistance
from the statutory services.
Statistics relating to work undertaken at the chest clinics are set out in the following
table.
Number of patients on chest clinics registers at 31 December, 1971.
Pulmonary 1,786
Non-pulmonary 264
New cases notified:
Pulmonary 73
Non-pulmonary 12
Deaths from tuberculosis 11
Contacts given B.C.G. Vaccination 188
Number of cases having home nursing service at 31 December, 1971: 5
Home visits by health visitors 4,603
Patients in receipt of extra nourishment 12
Patients assisted for the first time with:
Bed or bedding 13
Clothing or footwear 63
Diversional therapy—patients attending weekly classes:
81