‘Patient voices’ explores perspectives often overlooked in traditional medical histories;  

How did it feel to survive an operation without anaesthesia? What did it mean to face the fear of an epidemic, or the pain of social stigma from certain medical conditions? What was it like to live with a life-limiting condition? 

For centuries, histories of medicine have focused on famous doctors and scientific breakthroughs. However, many patient voices remain silent. Some were ignored, while others were never recorded. 

Yet patients’ voices enrich our understanding of illness and care. They reveal experiences of healing and support – alongside frustration, exclusion and resistance. Listening to these voices also helps us better understand times when healthcare did not meet patients' needs and caused harm.

In partnership with a patient advocacy steering group, this exhibition brings together voices past and present. The group has shaped the exhibition through new artwork, oral histories, and by acting as a critical sounding board throughout its development. While this gallery represents only a fragment of a larger history, its purpose is to spark curiosity.

Visitors are invited to reflect: What does it mean to be a patient today? How should healthcare listen to, and learn from, lived experience? 

14 September 2026 – 23 July 2027

Free entry