Highly Commended, BMA Medical Book Awards 2013
The history of health care is complex, confusing, and contested. It involves more than just the creation of hospitals and dispensaries, infirmaries, and health centers. There are also royal colleges, trades unions, medical schools, nurses- homes, coroners- courts, nursing sisterhoods, ambulance stations, patients- organizations, and medical missions.
Usually, to enhance our understanding we sit and read books, or, nowadays, surf the Internet. But it-s more fun to go out, visit the buildings where events unfolded and transport yourself back in time. The story of how health care has developed from medieval times to the present day is told through seven walks in central London, each with a key theme, such as:
- Competition between the church, crown, and city for control
- Changing fortunes of particular districts
- Radical reform between 1840 and 1880
- Individual creativity an
