Sir James Young Simpson: pioneer of anaesthesia in childbirth.

This year is the 150th anniversary of James Young Simpson's death in 1870. As well as being responsible for the introduction of general anaesthesia into obstetric practice, he made other important contributions to obstetrics and also to surgery as well as in the control of hospital infection.

Mary Seacole: self taught nurse and heroine of the Crimean War.

Mary Jane Seacole was born Mary Grant in Kingston Jamaica in 1805. Her father was a Scottish army officer and her mother a free Jamaican black, (slavery was not fully abolished in Jamaica until 1838). Her mother ran a hotel, Blundell Hall, in Kingston and was a traditional healer. Her skill as a nurse was much appreciated, as many of her residents were disabled British soldiers and sailors. It was from her mother that Mary learned the art of patient care, and she also assisted at the local British army hospital.