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61
CHEST CLINICS
There are three Chest Clinics in Westminster situated at the following addresses:—
Paddington Chest Clinic, 14-18 Newton Road, W.2. (229-8821).
St. Marylebone Chest Clinic, Town Hall, Marylebone Road, W.1. (935-7766).
Westminster Hospital Chest Clinic, St. John's Gardens, S.W.1. (828-9811).
I am indebted to the Consultant Physician at each of these Clinics for the following reports of
their activities during 1967:—
Paddington Chest Clinic—Dr. P. A. Zorab, Consultant Physician
There has been little alteration in the level of work and the problem of tuberculosis in this area
continues to have special features in that many of the immigrants are grossly overcrowded and a
large number of them only stay a short time. In consequence any new case may spread the infection
rapidly unless it is discovered in good time.
Our practice of holding regular B.C.G. clinics, providing an X-ray service for general practitioners
and by carefully following up tuberculin positive school children, continues to be most helpful in
our aim to eradicate tuberculosis.
Since the facilities we have with Brompton Hospital have become widely known, an increase in
the number of less common chest disease cases have been referred to this clinic.
Post Graduate and Nursing Teaching remains a regular feature of clinic work.
A number of research projects have been carried out in the past year, particularly into bronchitis.
Additional research plans for the clinic have been passed by the Regional Board for 1968 which
we hope to start in the Autumn. Funds to support a Research Registrar have been obtained.
St. Marylebone Chest Clinic—Dr. G. Shneerson, Consultant Physician
There has been no marked change in the incidence of either tuberculosis or deaths from cancer
of the lung during the past year.
The clinic continues to provide facilities for the prompt diagnosis and assessment of other nontuberculous
conditions.
Westminster Hospital Chest Clinic—Dr. P. A. Emerson, Consultant Physician
There was a fall in the incidence of tuberculosis during the year ended 31st December, 1967
by nearly half; thirty-eight new cases of tuberculosis were notified. There were 29 males and 9
females but no cases among children.
Six of the new cases of tuberculosis were referred to the chest clinic by the general practitioners;
seven by the South West London Mass X-ray Unit and twenty-five by various hospitals and other
mass X-ray units.
The regular visits to Bruce House were continued and it is hoped that visits to the other lodging
houses in the area will be started in 1968.
This year the statistics of the contact examination carried out in the last five years have been
reviewed. Of the 94 household contacts of sputum positive patients examined, 12 (12.5%) had
active tuberculosis at the first examination, but none are known to have developed the disease
subsequently. Of the 12 cases, 11 were children with primary tuberculosis or a recent tuberculin
test conversion. These figures emphasize that, in spite of the falling incidence of tuberculosis, the
preventative aspects of the control of tuberculosis are still of great importance.