This is a small collection of papers relating to the early career of Dr. Charles John Gibb (1824-1916), a local doctor who worked at the Newcastle Infirmary before setting up private practice in the city. The papers include certificates of Dr. Gibb's attendance at the Newcastle School of Medicine and his Certificate of Admittance to the Royal College of Surgeons, as well as journals of his travels in Scotland and Europe in 1848 and photographs of the Gibb family home in Sandyford, Newcastle. Dr. Gibb was immortalised in the famous Blaydon Races song: “Sum went to the dispensary, an' uthers to Doctor Gibbs”.

This is a collection of chiefly historical medical texts, numbering about 450 volumes, along with some archival material which was formerly owned by the neurologist and medical historian, Edwin Clarke (1919-1996). The collection usefully complements the Pybus and the Medical Collections.

Highlights include An inquiry concerning the history of the cowpox: principally with a view to supersede and extinguish the smallpox (1798) by George Pearson, the well-known physician, chemist and early advocate of Jenner's cowpox vaccination; and the Report from the Committee appointed to examine the physicians who have attended His Majesty, during his illness: touching the present state of His Majesty's health (1789), issued by Parliament during the period of King George III's recurrent mental illness. The collection also contains some modern secondary texts on various aspects of the history of medicine.

34 items. Includes letters from contemporaries of Williams, including letters sent in support of job applications. Also includes a number of photographs of Williams throughout her life, objects connected to the suffrage movement, and selected information about Williams collected after her death.

Consists of the professional and personal papers of Professor Frederick Charles Pybus. This also includes papers regarding his rare books and manuscripts collection.

Papers produced during Pybus' professional career in medicine.

Consists of published and unpublished material covering Sir Liam's professional career and achievements as;

Regional Medical Officer, Regional General Manager and Regional Director of Public Health for the Northern Regional Health Authority (1986 - 1994);

Regional General Manager, Regional Director and Regional Director of Public Health for the Northern and Yorkshire Regional Health Authority and NHS Executive: Northern and Yorkshire (1994 -1998);

Chief Medical Officer for England, Department of Health (1998 - 2010).

The majority of material relates to his time as Chief Medical Officer, covering his major health and health care campaigns, including published reports and contextual material related to these reports.

Also includes photographs, papers, correspondence and other material relating to Sir Liam's personal life, awards and honours.

Health issues covered in this report include;

Progress on 2001 and 2002 recommendations;

The harmful effects of smoking on people's skin;

The economic impact of smoke-free public places and work-places;

The importance of early detection and diagnosis of HIV;

A review of academic medicine and medical research;

And use of blood and safety in blood transfusions.

Also included is a regional focus on some local problems, trends and initiatives across England.

This annual report celebrates 150 years of the Annual Report of the Chief Medical Officer for England by looking at the historical context of the first annual report in 1858, a comparative analysis between the health of the nation in 1858 and 2008 and the continued relevance of some of the issues discussed, such as epidemics, vaccination and competency of healthcare professionals.

Health issues covered in this report include;

Progress on previous years' recommendations;

The effects of passive drinking on families and society and the need for minimum pricing on alcohol units as an immediate priority;

The need for greater research and counselling in regards to prostate cancer;

Greater action on chronic pain through assessment and inclusion on training curriculums;

Minimising antimicrobial resistance through awareness campaigns and other initiatives;

And making medical practice safer by introducing simulation-based training.

Also included is a regional focus on some local problems, trends and initiatives across England.

Podcasts produced in conjunction with the publication of Sir Liam's 2008 Annual Report. Consists of 6 episodes covering chapters within the annual report.

Episode 1: On the State of the Public Health (introduction) 03:03

Passive drinking; The collateral damage from alcohol 04:14

Episode 3: Prostate Cancer; What to do with the Pussycats 03:20

Episode 4: Pain; Breaking through the Barrier 02:30

Episode 5: Antimicrobial Resistance; Up against the ropes 02:57

Episode 6: Safer Medical Practice; Machines, Manikins and Polo mints 01:57

Consists of article entitled Donaldson States Case for Simulation in Training , which refers to Sir Liam's proposals in his 2008 Annual Report. Also discusses Sir Liam's call for minimum alcohol pricing in the same Annual Report.

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