The Four Necessities

Abstract

Four items were considered essential by the Foundation Professors for the development of a successful institute of postgraduate medical education: a library, a workshop, medical photography, and residential accommodation for students. The reasons for each were fairly obvious. Fifty years later all have been acquired: none turned out exactly as planned, but all required generous donors, much imagination and a great deal of perseverance. What many considered the ‘fifth necessity’ — good public transport — has hardly improved in the half-century.