The RCP museum is seeking to develop its collections. We welcome all types of donations related to the history of medicine, including instruments, equipment, photographs, artwork and medical teaching models.
What to donate
We are particularly interested in items that tell a story about the experiences of individual practitioners and/or patients. At the moment, we are prioritising objects that relate to medical practice in the 20th century, especially the early years of the NHS.
Examples of items we are seeking include (but are not limited to):
- insulin injectors and pumps
- medical education models
- hearing aids
- boxes and packaging for vaccines, antibiotics and antivirals
- testing kits for blood, DNA and urine
- items related to respiratory health
- pacemakers and other cardiology equipment.
How it works
If you are interested in donating something to the RCP museum, please email history@rcplondon.ac.uk with the following information:
- your name and contact details
- a description and photograph of the item
- details of how you came to own it
- any personal stories connected to the item
- approximate measurements.
All potential donations will be assessed against our collections development policy and successful donors will be contacted to arrange delivery of objects to the RCP. Once acquired, the objects will form a part of the permanent collection of our accredited museum.
For museums to remain vibrant and vigorous institutions ... they must always be works in progress.
Please do not send potential donations directly to us. Any items received in this way will be returned to the senders. If no return is possible, items will be held for 6 months and may be disposed of if not claimed.
Objects we can't collect
Large items, fragile or broken items, and hazardous items are unlikely to be appropriate for a museum collection. While we would love to collect large medical equipment, due to space restrictions we are unable to accept items larger than approximately 40 cm2.
In particular, we can’t collect:
- controlled drugs
- mercury
- anything flammable.
Recent donations
RCP president-elect Dr Andrew 'Bod' Goddard has gifted the museum an oesophageal stent from 1994. Stents like these are used in the treatment of cancer, helping to ensure that tumours don’t block the food pipe.
As they are for my patients, oesophageal stents are close to the heart.
Originally invented in the 1880s, this type of plastic model was introduced in the 1970s. However, the plastic stents were difficult to place – something which Dr Goddard dreaded as a trainee doctor.
More recently, much more flexible expanding metal stents have been introduced, making these uncomfortable versions a thing of the past.
Privacy
The museum catalogue and other collection management documents may contain information about living persons, in relation to collection items. The RCP also keeps records on research visitors, to meet access and security requirements.