Ellen Brown Orr
Ellen Brown Leggate nee Orr 1885-1972
Ellen Brown Orr graduated from Glasgow University MB ChB in 1911.
She began work in Glasgow Royal Infirmary upon leaving university as the first woman to practise general surgery in the West of Scotland. In GRI she worked alongside James Pringle (of Pringle manoeuver fame). In 1931 she became a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Glasgow (RCPSG).
Brown Orr was surgeon to Glasgow Women’s Private Hospital which became Redlands Hospital for Women in 1924 and was based at 11 Lancaster Crescent. She recognised the importance of rehabilitation and, along with Elizabeth Crammond, she was responsible for introducing physiotherapy there. Redlands was staffed only by women until 1955. It became part of the NHS in 1948 and eventually closed in 1978.
Brown Orr was progressive. She started an evening orthopaedic clinic in Clydebank so patients could still work during the day. A founder member of the Medical Women’s Federation, Brown Orr was president in 1936-37. From 1940 until 1950, when she retired, she was surgeon at Stonehouse, in charge of surgical treatment of servicemen. In 1962 she was elected a fellow of The RCPSG.
She loved nature and the outdoors and was a committee member of The Glasgow Tree Lovers’ Society.
Brown Orr died on January 18 1972, aged 86.
Ellen Orr (circled)