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I am indebted to the physicians-in-charge of the three chest clinics in Camden for the
following reports of the work of the clinics during 1965:-
Hampstead Chest Clinic
Report of the Physician-in-Charge
G. Schneerson, M.D., M.R.C.P.
The changes in local authority boundary administration have not affected the work at
this clinic which has continued to enjoy the same helpful co-operation from the new authority as
it had previously received from the old.
So far as the statistics are concerned, the notification figures for 1965 were no less than
for 1964, and this year the total for the first eight months has already almost reached the level
for the whole of 1965.
It is thus clear that although there may be somewhat less tuberculosis in the country at
large, this tendency is not reflected to the same degree in areas such as central London where
there is a shifting population.
The number of notified deaths from carcinoma of the lung in 1965 has also increased as
compared with 1964.
Ilolborn Chest Clinic
Report of the Physician-in-Charge
P.J.D. Heal, M.D., F.R.C.P.
The Holborn Chest Clinic which has now become one of the Chest Clinics to the Borough
of Camden is situated in University College Hospital and closely integrated with the Chest
Department. This association with the facilities of the hospital makes it possible to investigate
and treat all types of respiratory disease, tuberculosis, bronchitis, asthma and carcinoma of the
bronchus, etc.
Patients who require admission either come into the main hospital or if they have
tuberculosis and chronic conditions are often admitted to the chest beds at the University College
Hospital Annexe at 23 Devonshire Street. This latter accommodation is particularly suitable for
infectious patients and long-stay patients as the majority of them have single rooms.
Weekly meetings are held between the chest physicians and thoracic surgeons, patients
requiring operation are discussed and the necessary treatment carried out as a team. University
College Hospital has full facilities for thoracic surgery. There is also the facility for treating
respiratory failure with intermittent positive pressure respiration and three beds, in an Intensive
Care Unit, are equipped for this purpose.
If patients suffering from chest disease are unlucky enough to develop disease of other
organs then they can be referred to the necessary specialist within the hospital and the implication
of their respiratory disease on treatment can be discussed. Naturally the full ancillary services
of the hospital are available to the chest physicians.
In the Chest Department there is a pulmonary function laboratory where routine respiratory
function tests and research are carried out. These facilities are available for the i astigation of
both in-patients and out-patients.
Although the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis still forms an important part of
the work of the Clinic, it will be seen that the situation of this Department in the general hospital
makes investigation and treatment of other conditions satisfactory.
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