The Suffragette Surgeon: a lunchtime talk

In the event that online bookings for this event have sold out, you may still be able to attend on the day. Please note however that walk‑in slots are offered on a first‑come, first‑served basis after ticket-holders have been seated and depend on venue capacity.

About this talk

When: Tuesday, 16 June, 1pm to 2pm

When war broke out in 1914 women doctors offered their services to the British Army – but they were told to “Go home and sit still”. Flora Murray and Louisa Garrett Anderson refused to sit still. Both qualified doctors and suffragettes – and also life partners – they took a team of women doctors and nurses to Paris. Their hospital was so successful that the army asked them to run a major military hospital in the heart of London. Endell Street Military Hospital became the only hospital within the British Army to be run and staffed by women. Its doctors and nurses treated 24,000 wounded soldiers who were shipped back from the frontline throughout the First World War. Endell Street was renowned as the ‘most popular’ hospital in the First World War – but that did nothing to help its women pioneers when peace came.

Wendy Moore, author of ENDELL STREET: The Women who ran Britain’s Trailblazing Military Hospital, reveals the startling story of these pioneering women.

Wendy Moore is an award-winning journalist and the best-selling author of six books on medical and social history. As a journalist she has written for numerous newspapers including The Times, Guardian and Observer and medical journals including the Lancet and BMJ. She writes book reviews for the TLS and Literary Review. She has a Diploma in the History of Medicine from the Society of Apothecaries. ENDELL STREET is her fifth book. It was a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week.

Essential information:

• The event is free to attend, but booking is required.
• The talk will take place in the Museum's Learning Space, which is located at the back of the Museum adjacent to the Rotunda. A staff member at the Information Desk can advise on how to get there from the entrance.
• The talk will begin at 1pm. Please ensure you arrive promptly to the Museum's Learning Space for this time. Please note, there is airport-style security at the Museum's entrance.
• We cannot guarantee admittance if you are late for the talk, even if you have booked a ticket.
• If you were unable to book a ticket, you may still be able to attend on the day. Please note however that walk‑in slots are offered on a first‑come, first‑served basis after ticket-holders have been seated and depend on venue capacity. Otherwise, consider signing up to our newsletter; all our subscribers receive early access tickets for our events.
• Seating is unallocated, unless stated otherwise. We encourage arriving to the Learning Space at 12.45pm to get a good seat.
• For access enquiries, visit our Museum's accessibility page.

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