View report page

Dr. M Caplin, Consultant Chest Physician to the Chest Clinic at The London Chest Hospital
reports:
"The work of the Chest Clinic at the London Chest Hospital during 1967 has changed
little compared with the last few years. From the public health point of view the main
function of the Clinic is still the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and aftercare of
tuberculosis This disease still remains a problem though fortunately a decreasing one;
its eradication will require amongst other measures greater emphasis on the examination
of contacts at home, at school and at work, than has been customary in the past.
Other chest conditions such as chronic bronchitis, cancer of the lung,asthma and
pneumonia form the major portion of the work of the Chest Clinic. These conditions also
pose public health problems, and their proper management must include attention to the
patient's social circumstances. The close integration of the medical and welfare sections
of the Chest Clinic, set up originally for dealing with tuberculosis, is admirably suited
for dealing also with the problems of those suffering from non-tuberculous chest conditions
In this work we are considerably aided by the Hackney and Bethnal Green Chest
Diseases Care Committee. We are grateful to the members of this Committee, who represent
statutory and voluntary bodies, for their help. Though the income of the Committee is
decreasing - especially that from Christmas Seals - we have been supported considerably
by the National Society for Cancer Relief in our help to lung cancer patients,"
Dr. R.M. Orpwood, Chest Physician at the Poplar and Stepney Chest Clinics, reports:
"There has been no significant change in the function and work of the Poplar and
Stepney Chest Clinics compared with 1966. The diagnostic facilities remain unaltered and
the continuing and increasing use by family doctors of the chest X-ray service emphasises
the value of this. In 1967, 2,312 films were taken compared with 2,281 in 1966, Of
these X-rays, 801 were reported to show abnormalities, and 230 cases were further
investigated at the chest clinic: 9 cases of notifiable T.B. were discovered and 18
cases of carcinoma of the lung, a slight decrease of the former and an increase of the
latter.
In addition, the mass X-ray unit has been working locally on a regular one-day-weekly
basis, during the latter part of the year, and 31 abnormalities were referred to the
clinic for further investigation.
The continued effort by these, and other means, to discover new cases of tuberculosis
(apart from other chest diseases) is one of the most important ways in which this disease
may eventually be eradicated. The number of new cases of tuberculosis, however, falls
slowly, but apart from unexpected developments this pattern should be expected to
continue each year. There are still, however, sufficient new cases, particularly in
respect of recent immigrants, to make it justifiable not to relax any of our efforts.
23% of all new notifications of T.B. in the Stepney area in 1967 were amongst such
immigrants. This percentage fluctuates a little from year to year but still remains a
significant portion of the total number
- 19 -