Respiratory services/Croydon Chest Clinic/TB

The Croydon Chest Clinic provides a comprehensive respiratory service for patients living in Croydon and the neighbouring boroughs.

The Chest Clinic originally operated from Katherine Street in Croydon centre but moved to its current premises on Mayday Road in the mid 1950’s.

Dr Roland Fanthorpe, its first consultant chest physician, was appointed in 1952 and the building where the Chest Clinic s loated is name after hi (Fanthorpe Bulding). 

The Chest Clinic has operated a successful TB screening and contact tracing programme for many years.

It treats in excess of 100 new cases of TB annually. Thoracic surgeons from St George’s Hospital and oncologists from the Royal Marsden Hospital in Sutton support the Lung Cancer Team.

Approximately 130 new cases of lung cancer are diagnosed and referred for treatment through GP and hospital referrals.  All X-ray reports are currently directed to the Main Radiology Department, but the Clinic is still happy to review abnormal Chest X-rays as part of lung cancer and TB screening. The Chest X-Ray service operates from:  

• Croydon Hospital (Monday – Thursday mornings) 
• Purley Hospital (Tuesday and Friday mornings) - service will temporarily close from Novermber 2012 to summer 2013 while refurbishment of Purley Hospitalis carried out

The clinic currently has 3 full-time respiratory consultants and some sesssions are provided by a chest consultant who also works in the medical admissions unit.

It benefits from full lung function facilities, diagnostic bronchoscopy and pleural services as well as respiratory physiotherapy for complex respiratory conditions (e.g. post tracheostomy care, bronchiectasis; Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), asthma, lung fibrosis).

It also provides a screening service for patients with suspected sleep apnoea or severe snoring.

Urgent referrals

Urgent referrals to the Chest Clinic for suspected lung cancer are seen within two weeks of referral by the GP.

TB referrals are seen within one week.

The Croydon Chest Clinic accepts referrals through the Choose & Book system and direct referrals.

The services offered are:

• Inpatient care for routine chest cases and intensive care for more severe cases
• Fibre optic bronchoscopy sessions (Tuesday and Thursday afternoons)
• Dedicated Chest Clinic for outpatients; 11 sessions per week
• Full lung function testing (Monday-Wednesday; Croydon University Hospital)
• Skin prick allergen testing (Monday –Wednesday; Croydon University Hospital)
• Obstructive Sleep Apnoea screening service (Monday –Wednesday; Croydon University Hospital)
• Assessment for long term oxygen therapy (Monday – Wednesday; Croydon University Hospital)
• Nurse-led Respiratory Clinic / nebuliser service supported by a designated respiratory nurse
• TB clinics, 2 sessions per week for TB patients, TB contacts and other clients
• Services for Directly Observed Therapy for some TB patients who come to the Chest Clinic to be given their medication under supervision
• BCG vaccination programme for Chest Clinic patients only, for example TB contacts (routine BCG vaccination no longer provided in Chest Clinic)
• Nurse support and monitoring for TB patients
• Mass TB screening in community (in case of outbreak)
• Nurse led TB clinics, including TB chemoprophylaxis & occupational health assessment
• TB database for Croydon maintained in Chest Clinic
• Collaborative Lung Cancer clinics with Chest Surgeon, Clinical Oncologist, Medical Oncology and Palliative Care Services
• Walk in Chest X-ray service - Monday - Friday from 9 am to 12 noon and 2 pm to 4 pm
• Weekly combined X-ray sessions to discuss films
• Pulmonary rehabilitation courses
• Asthma/TB education and health promotion

What do I do if I haven’t received my appointment yet?

Please call 020 8401 3000 (ext 4670) or 020 8401 3135 or phone relevant consultant’s secretary.

What do I do if I want to change or cancel an appointment?

Call 020 8401 3000 ext 4670 or 020 8401 3135

What should I bring to my appointment?

• For clinic consultations: please bring a list of your medicines
• For Lung function tests: a list of your inhalers– if appropriate
• For Nurse-led Respiratory Clinic – please bring your inhalers
• For Sleep studies – nothing

What time should I arrive for my appointment?

It is best to arrive half an hour before your time of clinic appointment to allow

• basic measurements (e.g. weight and height)
• routine Chest X-rays and breathing tests

Chest Clinic Reception

020 8401 3135

Chest Clinic X-ray

020 8401 3139

Consultants

Dr Tuck-Kay Loke
Lung Cancer, Asthma, Bronchoscopy Services
020 8401 3136/3142

Dr Rosh Siva
COPD, Lung function, Acute NIV
020 8401 3137/3141

Dr Ann Dunleavy
TB, Thoracic Medicine, Bronchiectasis
020 8401 3138/3134

Visiting Consultants

Dr Imogen Locke
Clinical Oncologist (Royal Marsden, Sutton)

Mr Ian Hunt / Miss Carol Tan 
Thoracic Surgery (St George’s, Tooting)

Dr Mary O’Brien
Medical Oncologist (Royal Marsden, Sutton)

Nurse Specialists

Rosemary Khan / Anne Smith
Respiratory Nurse Specialists
020 8401 3140 / 020 8401 3923

Christine Bristow / Roshan Soobratty
TB Nurse Specialists
020 8401 3140 / 020 8401 3923

Janet Camara
TB Case Worker
020 8401 3140

Vivien Bruce / Judith Coleman
Lung Cancer Nurse Specialists
020 8401 3876 (bleep 792 Monday-Friday)