Today, nurses play a vital role in prison health care. At the heart of their work is ‘equitable care’ – ensuring that people in prison receive the same quality of health care as those in the community. However, as recently as 30 years ago, many prisoners would never have encountered a registered nurse.

This exhibition explores the fascinating history of health care in prisons, from the work of early reformers like Elizabeth Fry to the vital contribution that nurses make to prisoner health today. Discover the experiences of suffragettes, force-fed in Holloway Prison, the formation of secure hospitals like Broadmoor, and artwork created by prisoners and nurses at HM Prison Eastwood Park and HM Prison Warren Hill.

The exhibition was co-created with Royal College of Nursing members, with support from the RCN History of Nursing Forum and the RCN Forensic and Justice Nursing Forum.

The exhibition will run at RCN London HQ, Thursday 24 April – Saturday 11 October 2025 and then at RCN Scotland (final dates tbc).

Join us for the exhibition launch.