Exhibition charting public health nursing through the centuries opens at the RCN

A new exhibition charting public health nursing through the decades has opened at the RCN in London.

Beginning in the 19th century and pioneered by Florence Nightingale, public health nursing was born with the rise of social reform and efforts to improve the health of the poorest in society. 

Nursing history

A Healthful Form or Work: The History of Public Health Nursing exhibition features a selection of images and artefacts, including equipment, information leaflets and photographs of public health nurses going about their daily work.

The collection's launch event on 4 October included a panel event where a range of experts dissected the history of vaccination and its impact on public health. 

Panel speakers

It was led by RCN professional lead for public health Helen Donovan and included contributions from Oxford University professor Sally Shuttleworth and representatives from Whittington Health NHS Trust and St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Ms Donovan said: ‘It is really exciting to see this exhibition come to fruition.

'The history of public health nursing is a remarkable story travelling through welfare reforms, the development of health visiting and social inequalities, and it’s a story everyone should see.’

The free exhibition is open until March 2017 at the RCN Library and Heritage Centre.

Further information:

RCN Exhibitions