The Infirmary Museum

It was in Worcester, in the boardroom of the former Worcester Infirmary, that a young physician named Charles Hastings founded the Provincial Medical Association in 1832, which later became known as the British Medical Association. Worcester continued as the HQ of the BMA for the next 39 years as it campaigned for professional and medical advances including the establishment of the General Medical Council.

Together Charles Hastings and George Marshall have placed Worcester well and truly on the medical heritage map, and while working closely the two museums offer very different visitor experiences. Based in the original Georgian infirmary, The Infirmary Museum features interactive displays to bring the story of healthcare alive. It interweaves the story of the birth of the BMA with a general introduction to the history of healthcare based around the stories of those who worked and were treated there. Visitors can investigate medical technology through the ages, ranging from trephines and bone saws right up to the invention of keyhole surgery and digital imaging. An exhibit on the Powick mental asylum challenges visitors’ ideas around mental health. Visitors are also encouraged to share their personal memories of the building in the museum.