The Radcliffe Infirmary

The Radcliffe Infirmary holds a special place in the history of medicine and in the hearts of the people of Oxfordshire. It was here that penicillin was first used to treat infections, the first accident service was set up and a flying squad to go to the aid of mothers in crisis in childbirth was created. The hospital has been a pioneer in plastic surgery, anaesthetics, physiotherapy, neurosciences, nursing and many other areas. Many thousands of patients and their families have cause to be grateful for its care. To mark the closure of this great institution, Andrew Moss, who worked in the NHS locally for over twenty-five years, has drawn on historic archives and contemporary sources to present a fascinating picture of hospital life from the Infirmary’s foundation in 1770 to the present day, which will surprise, inform and delight readers.