The North of England Thoracic Society (NETS) aims to improve care for patients suffering with thoracic disease, promote good respiratory health, and increase knowledge and learning for our membership through regular educational events.
The history of the North of England Thoracic Society (NETS) is rich. We were founded in 1918 as the North of England Tuberculosis Society and in the more than hundred years since our members have shaped the fields of Respiratory medicine and thoracic surgery. Today, our membership is broad and varied, including physicians, surgeons, nurses, physiotherapists, and speech and language therapists, amongst a number of other allied health professional groups.
Previous Presidents
Since being founded as the North of England Tuberculosis Society in 1918 our society presidents have been amongst the most esteemed clinicians within their fields, working across the North East and Cumbria. During World War Two the societies activities were suspended until 1947 when Dr Dickinson re-invigorated the society – we have been active and thriving ever since.
| Date of Tenure | Name | Institution |
| 2024 (Incumbent) | J. Lordan | Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne |
| 2021 | K. Heslop-Marshall | Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne |
| 2018 | N. Munro | University Hospital of North Durham, Durham |
| 2017 | S.J. Bourke | Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne |
| 2015 | A.P Foden | Darlington Memorial Hospital, Darlington |
| 2013 | S.C. Stenton | Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne |
| 2010 | P.A. Corris | Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne |
| 2008 | E.T. Peel | North Tyneside General Hospital, North Shields |
| 2006 | R. Harrison | North Tees Hospital, Stockton on Tees |
| 2004 | N.P. Keaney | Sunderland Royal Hospital, Sunderland |
| 2002 | W.T. Berrill | West Cumberland Hospital, Whitehaven |
| 1999 | G.J. Gibson | Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne |
| 1997 | D. Hendrick | Newcastle General Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne |
| 1995 | S. Pearce | Dryburn Hospital, Durham |
| 1993 | G.N. Morritt | Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne |
| 1991 | R.A.L. Brewis | Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne |
| 1989 | C.K. Connolly | Darlington Memorial Hospital, Darlington |
| 1987 | J.E. Cotes | The University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne |
| 1986 | J.H.R. Ramsay | Sunderland Hospitals, Sunderland |
| 1984 | S. Nariman | Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne |
| 1982 | J.E.M Hutchinson | Pneumoconiosis Medical Panel, Newcastle upon Tyne |
| 1980 | A.R. Somner | Chest Clinic at The Green, Wallsend, Newcastle upon Tyne |
| 1978 | J.S. Law | Dryburn Hospital, Durham |
| 1976 | J.R. Lauckner | West Chest Clinic, Elswick Road, Newcastle upon Tyne |
| 1974 | L. Feinman | Chest Clinic, Queen Elizabeth Road, Gateshead |
| 1972 | E.A. Spriggs | West Chest Clinic, Elswick Road, Newcastle upon Tyne |
| 1970 | J.M. Gilmore | Chest Clinic, Blyth, Northumberland |
| 1968 | B. Couts | Middlesbrough General Hospital, Middlesbrough |
| 1966 | W.C. Barnsley | Shotley Bridge Hospital, Consett, County Durham |
| 1964 | P.O. Leggat | West Chest Clinic, Elswick Road, Newcastle upon Tyne |
| 1962 | M. Walton | Middlesbrough General Hospital, Middlesbrough |
| 1960 | A.H. White | Chest Clinic, Royal Infirmary, Sunderland |
| 1958 | C. Verity | Newcastle General Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne |
| 1956 | G. Hurrell | Northern Counties Chest Hospital, Elswick Road, Newcastle upon Tyne |
| 1953 | F.L.W. Wollaston | Wooley Sanatorium, Hexham, Northumberland |
| 1951 | S.D. Rowlands | Tuberculosis Dispensary, New Bridge Street, Newcastle upon Tyne |
| 1949 | J.W. Gray | Horn Hill Sanatorium, Stanhope, County Durham |
| 1947 | W.H. Dickinson | Newcastle General Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne |
| 1939-1945 | World War II | |
| 1938 | J.W. Gray | Horn Hill Sanatorium, Stanhope, County Durham |
| 1936 | T.C. Hunter | Stannington Sanatorium, Morpeth, Northumberland |
| 1935 | S.D. Rowlands | Tuberculosis Dispensary, New Bridge Street, Newcastle upon Tyne |
| 1934 | W.H. Dickinson | Tuberculosis Medical Officer, Newcastle upon Tyne |
| 1933 | C.G.R Woodwin | Barrasford Sanatorium, Hexham, Northumberland |
| 1932 | J.G.W Boleyn | Tuberculosis Medical Officer, Gateshead |
| 1931 | R. Cunningham | Wooley Sanatorium, Hexham, Northumberland |
| 1930 | J.W. Gray | Horn Hill Sanatorium, Stanhope, County Durham |
| 1928 | W.H. Dickinson | Tuberculosis Medical Officer, Newcastle upon Tyne |
| 1923 | S. Knibb Young | Tuberculosis Medical Officer, Durham |
| 1922 | C.G.R Woodwin | Barrasford Sanatorium, Hexham, Northumberland |
| 1920 | G.S. Dodgson | Hollywood Hall Sanatorium, Wolsingham, County Durham |
| 1918 | H.A. Ellis | Tuberculosis Medical Officer, Middlesbrough |
