Protecting and conserving the Royal Free Hospital archive

The archives of the Royal Free Hospital and London School of Medicine for Women were transferred to London Metropolitan Archives in 2013, following the closure of the Royal Free Hospital Archive Service. The hospital is notable as the first free hospital in London and first in Britain to accept women as students. It was the first to appoint an almoner (forerunner of the social worker), and pioneered treatments for kidney and liver diseases, haemophilia and cancer. The archives span 150 linear metres and contain some of the earliest surviving patient case notes, including those by the first women surgeons and physicians. This project is to enable physical access to the archive after conservation and preservation, and to repair damaged items.