Slump in Harley Street

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 109, 11 May 1939, Page 8

Slump in Harley Street

“THE CITADEL" PARTLY BLAMED Harley Street is in the dumps. Expensive nursing homes in the MayfairMarylebone area have been forced to shut their doors or are carrying on with only a few paying patients. Specialists find that people are less inclined to incur heavy bills in Harley Street. Tradesmen who supply the nursing homes, clinics, and doctors find business slack. There are more “To Let" notices in Harley Street than for a long time past. And the reason? Many doctors admit that the book and film, “The Citadel," written by Dr. A. J. Cronin, which contains an indictment of the black sheep among the bigfee specialists, have seriously affected Harley Street incomes. “The Citadel" has made many people suspicious of Harley Street, including wealthy people who can afford three and five-guinea consultation fees. Other people who still go to the West End specialists are more critical of their bills.

Specialists recommended by practitioners have not been much affected, but Harley Street doctors who have no claim to be called “Harley Street" but their addresses, and who obtain their patients direct, are those most severely hit. Black Sheep. One Harley Street doctor said: “I think that ‘The Citadel' has definitely played some part toward the depression in Harley Street, though general conditions are mainly responsible. “The trouble is that people arc not discriminating. After seeing tho picture they are inclined to damn the whole profession because of a few striking examples. “Actually, most of Harley Street welcomed ‘The Citadel' because they realised there were black sheep among the medical profession as in any other. Another doctor tfiaid: “There is no doubt that both the book and the film have had a profound effect on public opinion. “It has tended to increase the status of the general practitioner. “You must remember that there are no secrets in medicine, and that any discoveries can be adopted by any doctor. “Harley Street men may be more skilled in the diagnosis of obscure diseases, but the actual treatment is the same." Florists in the neighbourhood of Harley Street report that sales have dropped. One explanation of this is that the nursing homes can no longer find patients willing to pay their high prices. It was also pointed out by one doctor that the influenza epidemic has played a part in decreasing the business of these nursing homes because surgeons will not operate while patients have the 'flu. Several small nursing homes aro closing down through lack of patrons. “People are much more carefui about incurring bills in Harley Street, ’ ’ said another specialist. ‘‘ In recent months the medical centre known as ‘Harley Street,' has increased its boundaries, and many specialists now live outside the area

because they cannot pay the high rents demanded. A firm of estate agents who deal with properties in Harley Street said: ‘ ‘ There is certainly more property on the market in Harley Street than there has been for some time."