From the ancient Greeks onwards women have always played a varied role in health care, not solely confined to caring within the home. Having acknowledged the variety of healing roles and practices, our free guided tour starts in the medieval hospital. Moving on to the healing skills of  the educated lady of the manor, we proceed by meeting the founder of male nursing and a nun who worked as an apothecary, as well as considering nursing’s seamier history of poor working class slave labour. Florence Nightingale’s moccasins provide a focus for understanding the change that was wrought in nurse training, bringing us up to date with the modern day nurse, who often has a specialism.

There is no need to book (though spaces are limited). Just meet your guide beside the Information point on the ground floor.

Portable induction loops for hearing aid wearers, and portable amplifiers for non-hearing aid wearers are available to borrow for tours, upon request. If you would like to make use of this equipment, would like more information or if you have any other access related enquiries, please email access@wellcomecollection.org or call +44(0)20 7611 2222.