Statistics & Evidence Based Healthcare

Devonshire Royal Hospital, 1859-2000

Display No. 22

Devonshire Royal Hospital was created in 1859 as a charity hospital for the ‘sick poor’ in Lancashire and Yorkshire, near Florence Nightingale’s family home in Lea Hurst. The hospital serves as yet another example of Nightingale’s tireless campaigning work. She often provided financial support for medical care of people in her community and, in 1878, was distressed to learn that standards at Devonshire Hospital were lacking. Enlisting help from her various connections, including an appeal to the Duke of Devonshire, and within a year the hospital was “what it ought to be”.

Devonshire Hospital

Entrance to Chalybeate room, St. Anne’s Well. Credit: Wellcome Collection. CC BY 4.0

Exhibits from ‘Statistician & Evidence Based Healthcare’

Discover the 200 Exhibits

Nightingale is respected worldwide for her pioneering role in developing the nursing profession, her statistical work, and her evidence-based approach to healthcare. In honour of her bicentenary the World Health Organisation have named 2020 the Year of the Nurse and Midwife.

In our special exhibition, you will find out about objects, people and places which tell interesting stories about Florence’s life and legacy. You’ll discover artefacts from her life, people she both inspired and challenged, and places she helped to shape. There’s many more insights too!

Please click on the different sections of her famous coxcomb diagram to explore various aspects of her life and legacy. We hope you enjoy exploring!