Pioneers of Medicine in Norwich

The Jenny Lind celebrates its 170th anniversary this year, and to highlight this, Richard England (paediatric surgeon) and Stephen Gillam (GP and past president) talk about the evolution and development of the Norwich Medico-Chirurgical Society.

In the 170th year of the Jenny Lind department at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, Stephen Gillam (GP and past president), describes the evolution of the Norwich Medico-Chirurgical Society, one of the oldest medical societies in the country, and Richard England (paediatric surgeon) joins him to tell how the members of the Med-Chi Society were pioneers in the development of paediatric medicine and surgery.

Part way through the 19th century the Society was, like the rest of Norwich, thrown into turmoil by the visits of the opera star Jenny Lind. Known as the 'Swedish Nightingale', her concerts and charitable donation to the city inspired the establishment here of the second Children’s Hospital in the country.

The society continues to hold meetings at the present Norfolk and Norwich Hospital.