Exhibitions
Current Exhibition
Being Patient: Care and Convalescence, 1850–1950
This exhibition acknowledges the role of nurses and other carers who were responsible for the day-to-day comfort and care of their patients in the often long period of convalescence, before the introduction of penicillin and other drugs that have largely seen the demise of terms such as ‘convalescence’ and ‘invalid’.
Convalescence entailed constant and detailed attention to feeding, washing and toileting needs to prevent the complications associated with prolonged bed rest. It called for considerable patience and stamina on the part of the carer.
Through this display of early nursing and domestic equipment, photographs and publications, one catches a glimpse of the very personal and ‘hands on’ nature of the work carried out by nurses and other helpers for those in their care.
The exhibition is open weekdays from 9am–5 pm, and will run until June 2006.