The History of Geriatric Medicine

The London offices of the BGS is home to an archive and library devoted both to the history of the Society, and to the history of geriatric medicine in general. Archival documents include biographies of key figures in the Society’s history and development.

Michael Denham, Past President of the British Geriatrics Society, is the official archivist and the authoritative voice on the birth of the NHS and the progress of geriatric medicine in the United Kingdom.

This series focuses on the development of geriatric medicine in the UK and the decision to form the British Geriatrics Society in 1947.

Victorian philanthropists, philosophers and activists

A potted pen picture of the philanthropists who fought to bring about a kinder and more egalitarian society

Historical context leading to Marjory Warren's work

A description of the social context which gave rise to Marjory Warren’s assessment of 874 inmates of a large public assistance institution in West Middlesex in 1935.

Overseas-trained South Asian doctors and the development of geriatric medicine

The role of immigrants from the Asian sub-continent in the development of geriatric medicine

A Brief History of the Care of the Elderly

History of geriatric medicine in the UK: pioneers of geriatric medicine

Marjory Warren created the first geriatric unit in the UK. She systematically examined every new patient. Having separated the sick from the healthy, the old from the young, she instituted medical treatment and rehabilitation.

History of geriatric medicine in the UK: early publications

Early publications on geriatric medicine; the origin of the word 'geriatrics' and first mention of a 'geriatric giant'.

History of geriatric medicine in the UK: historical background

In medieval times, sick people were cared for in monasteries. Some religious orders built hospital wings where elderly and infirm patients received better food and received special care. Later, convents adopted a nursing role.

History of geriatric medicine in the UK: birth of the BGS

Notes on the inaugural meeting of the Medical Society for the Care of the Elderly (later the British Geriatrics Society).

From Hippocrates to Marjory Warren

It is widely assumed that geriatric medicine was an invention of the twentieth century. However, from the time of Hippocrates, there has been interest in the prolongation of the lifespan, the maintenance of health in old age and age related disease patterns.

Lord Rowton and the homeless in London

Doreen Norton - How one nurse helped to stop killer bedsores

“Moving a patient relieves bedsores:” it sounds obvious today, but it took the work of an innovative nurse in the 1950s working with a group of elderly patients to realise it. Bedsores, or pressure ulcers are lesions caused by a number of factors including unrelieved pressure.

Care of the elderly in hospital/community: the Hospital/Health Advisory Services

“There is no doubt that the occasional scandal does an enormous amount for a social service.” Sir Keith Joseph in the House of Commons 12/7/1971

Charting the course of philanthropy in the care of older people

As we once were - Prof. Peter Townsend (1928-2009)

Growing old in common lodgings

Originally lodging houses were designed to accommodate younger labourers who came to town to find work but were unable to travel to and from their own homes. Gradually the population changed to include an increasing proportion of older men, particularly pensioners.

The Major Influences in Geriatric Medicine

As we were in the early post war years - The 1941-1945 hospital surveys

In 1941 Ernest Brown, presented the House of Commons with the general principles on which the government proposed to base its post war hospital policy. He was organising surveys of hospital services in England and Wales, which in the event took 4/5 years to complete.

History of geriatric medicine in the UK: Joseph Rogers and the 1867 Metropolitan Poor Act and emergence of state hospitals

Michael Denham discusses the emergence of state hospitals - an improvement on the quackery and inadequate regulation of medical services which prevailed in the UK

The way we once were The Sheldon Surveys of Wolverhampton and the Birmingham Chronic Sick Regional Hospitals, 1948 and 1961

Developments which led to the establishment of the NHS

The Elderly and the Workhouse

The chronicle of care of older people in Britainstretches back hundreds of years. In those early days, illness would be managed within the family, perhaps with aid from local herbalists. When available, almshouses provided free or subsidised housing for frail elderly.

As we once were The wartime emergency medical service and the future NHS

When Mr Chamberlain announced on September 3rd 1939 that this country was at war with Germany, the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) swung into action.

As we once were - Hospital Beds and the King’s Fund Project

The role of the King's Fund in the design of hospital beds and leading up to the formation of the NHS

As We Once Were: Wartime Rationing

Before the Second World War, Britain was not self-sufficient in many materials. Less than one third of the food available in the UK at the start of the war was home produced and the country had to import some 20 million tons each year.

Celebrating BGS founder Marjory Warren on her birthday

BGS founding member and revolutionary geriatrician Marjory Warren was born on 28 October 1897. On her birthday, BGS Past President and historian Michael Denham reflects on her contribution to modern geriatric medicine.