History of Medicine

In the midst of COVID-19, we’ve put together a constantly evolving set of resources exploring the history of hygiene, disease and pandemics.

Further information about the history of nursing, PPE, pandemics, disease and other COVID-19 related stories.

Thackray Stories

The NHS was launched by Clement Attlee’s Labour Government on 5 July 1948 offering free, professional healthcare for all.

People have ‘nursed’ each other back to health since the beginning of time but the roots of modern nursing started in the 1800s.

A the moment there is an ongoing debate about whether we should be wearing face masks.

Gloves have a key role in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in hospitals and the wider community.

Before germ theory we didn’t know there were microorganisms and bacteria that could kill us.