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...