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I have given additional tables to show as a matter of interest the
position in 1938, 1950 and the year now being reported upon. It will
be seen how the accent has markedly changed to that of an older
age group in fact a very much older group being notified and dying
from this disease. As I mentioned in a previous report Tuberculosis
may be on the run but it is to some extent still full of running.
Romford Chest Clinic.
Noted below are some notes from Dr. S. Thompson, the Consultant
Chest Physician: —
"During the year 1960 the trend towards lower incidence and
lower death rate from tuberculosis continued, though in the combined
Districts of Romford and Hornchurch served by the Romford Chest
Clinic there was a slight rise in new respiratory cases and also in the
death rate. More cases of tuberculosis were transferred into the area
than were transferred out, so that the total notified cases remaining on
the register at the end of the year showed a rise and there were over
1,500 notified cases at the end of the year.
It is gratifying to note that the incidence in children is very small
and the more serious forms of miliary tuberculosis of the lungs and
tuberculous meningitis are becoming extremely rare. This is no doubt
attributable to the great reduction in infectious cases in the population
due to the widespread use of chemotherapy and anti-tuberculous drugs.
In addition, the extension of the use of B.C.G. vaccination is giving the
child population increased protection against infection.
The Regional Hospital Board decided to close the smaller chest
units in the Region and unfortunately the chest unit at Rush Green
Hospital, which had served a most useful purpose for the local population
for the past ten years, was one of the units to be closed and the
beds used for other purposes. The bulk of the local cases of tuberculosis
are now treated in Broomfield Hospital and Dagenham Hospital, together
with a small chest unit at High Wood Hospital, Brentwood.
The seeking out of contacts and the follow-up of cases referred from
the Mass Radiography Units continues to increase and the miniature
X-ray unit is most useful in catering for these cases, of which the total
has now reached almost 3,000.
In addition to dealing with cases of tuberculosis, large numbers of
non-tuberculous chest conditions are referred for diagnosis by the
General Practitioners and assistance is given to them in the treatment
and management of these cases."