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Dr. B.C. Hanson, Acting Consultant Chest Physician at the Stepney Chest Clinic
repor ts:
"December 1971 was marked by the retirement of Dr. Orpwood, Consultant
Chest Phys ician for many years.. At a farewell gathering, staff and colleagues
past and present expressed their appreciation of the achievements of his service
to the East End, and extended personally their best wishes to Dr. and Mrs.
Orpwood for a happy retirement.
During 1971 the clinic continued to provide a readily available service
for the assessment and treatment of respiratory disease. There was some
decline in the notification of tuberculosis and hence innew contact examinations
and B.C.G. vaccinations. This followed the national trend in relation to age,
sex, ethnic and social categories. Due to a preponderance in certain areas
of Stepney ofsusceptible groups, the incidence of tuberculosis remained higher
thail the national average. The problems presented by other chest conditions
prevailed as in previous years.
The Care Committee continued to help patients in need who attended the
Chest Clinic. Assistance was given in helping to solve the many problems
arising from a long illness, and in some cases grants were made from the
voluntary fund. The value of this fund, which is readily available in an
emergency, cannot be over-estimated and the assistance of the Care Committee
over many years in providing both financial and supportive help has been a
most valuable contribution to the work of the Chest Clinic.
The prevalence of chest illness in Tower Hamlets has had much bearing on
the work of the clinic. Within the shifting lodging house populace existis a
reservoir of tuberculosis amongst undiagnosed and lapsed cases. In pockets
of the Borough poverty and poor environmental conditions predispose to chest
affections in general. The acceleration of the acquisition of smoking habits
during adolescence intensifies the challenge already posed by lung cancer.
Psychiatric illness, maladjustment and alcoholism militate against those
in whomi the need is greatest seeking aid, and credit is due to the vigilance of
the general practitioners who initiate referral to the clinics.
Throughout the years all sorts and conditions of men have passed through
Stepney Chest Clinic. The concerted efforts of a closely knit anci11ary staff
who have adopted af 1 exib1e approach to their several needs, have both encouraged
and enabled the acceptance of medical advice proffered.
Since 1936 this clinic has worked as a self contained unit. It is soon to
be embraced by the London Chest Hospital. The divers facets of respiratory
medicine will now be unified under the auspices of a teaching hospital. This
should augur well. The expertise now gained will yet be deployed in accordance
with the established principles of traditional chest clinic practice".
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