New interactive displays have been installed at the Infirmary Museum, bringing the story of Worcester’s old hospital to life.
The three new hands-on pieces of equipment have been installed at the University of Worcester-run Museum, designed to enhance the visitor experience as well as the University’s teaching provision. This project is being supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England of nearly £60,000.
Harriet Hathaway, Curator of The Infirmary Museum, said: “Our museum will really benefit from these fantastic new interactive displays, encouraging more people to visit to find out more about the history of the City’s former hospital. We hope to also encourage further collaborative work with departments within the University, including the new Three Counties Medical School, providing experiences for students, while also serving the wider public, including schools.”
The Infirmary Museum, situated within the University’s City Campus, explores the history of the former Worcester Royal Infirmary – which once operated from the same site – through a series of exhibits, including medical equipment and uniforms. The three digital interactive stations are an Amputation Station, Microscope Station and Keyhole Surgery Station.
The Amputation Station aims to help children understand the amputation process in more detail and sits alongside the story of a surgeon of the Infirmary who trialled different amputation techniques.
The Microscope Station gives visitors a closer look at a variety of ‘slides’ under a ‘microscope’ using a digital touch screen animation.
The Keyhole Surgery Station offers an opportunity to ‘perform’ a key-hole surgery. Visitors use real medical instruments to manipulate organs in a model body, whilst looking at a television monitor to see the results of their work.
The funding was awarded through Arts Council England’s National Lottery Project Grants, its open access programme for arts, libraries and museums projects, which is funded by the National Lottery. The fund supports thousands of individual practitioners, community and cultural organisations.
Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture that receives Government funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
To find out more about Arts Council England funding or apply visit www.artscouncil.org.uk.
For information on courses at University of Worcester visit www.worcester.ac.uk or for application enquiries telephone 01905 855111 or email [email protected]