Royal Free Charity | From Marsden to Modern Medicine

From Marsden to Modern Medicine

21 November 2024 
Paul Ramsbottom OBE speaking at the 2024 Marsden Lecture
Paul Ramsbottom delivering the 2024 Marsden Lecture 
Would the Wise Men be able to deliver their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the infant Jesus in our complex modern world? This provocative question was posed by Paul Ramsbottom OBE, a leading figure in the UK’s charity sector, in the annual Marsden Lecture hosted last week by the Royal Free Charity at the Royal Free Hospital. 

From complex processes for donation acceptance to a lack of trust in the source of philanthropists’ wealth, Ramsbottom, chief executive of the Wolfson Foundation, discussed how contemporary practicalities and scrutiny can act as a deterrent to charitable giving.

Ramsbottom said: We’re just about to enter the Christmas period, and part of the story recounted each year, of course, is the account of the Magi, mysterious men from the East bearing their gifts to the child Jesus. It’s one of the earliest recorded acts of philanthropy, we might argue.

But of course, in 2024, the Magi would be treated with great suspicion. Their source of wealth is offshore. It is from an unknown provenance. It, I suspect, would not get through the standard gift acceptance committee.

How do we balance a reasonable need for scrutiny with the overwhelming needs of society?”

Drawing on historical and contemporary examples, Ramsbottom explored how philanthropy’s role has evolved to being more necessary than ever before. He linked the Victorian conditions that led Dr William Marsden to establish the Royal Free Hospital with the principles that allowed the UK to respond swiftly to COVID-19, thanks to prior investment in health research by the state, industry, and philanthropy.

How do we harness and encourage the emotional drive, the generosity of spirit and action that led William Marsden to set up the Royal Free Hospital, that caused Isaac Wolfson to establish the Wolfson Foundation, and that propelled the Wise Men across the desert?” Ramsbottom asked. 

In a world of scrutiny, it’s increasingly important to make the case for philanthropy. We need philanthropy not just for the funds that it can provide. It seems to me the state can never provide all of the answers to society’s problems. The money on the margins, then, can have an oversized impact, and not least in medicine and in health care.”

Jon Spiers, chief executive of the Royal Free Charity, added: In referencing the timeless story of the Magi, Paul challenged us to connect their act of generosity with the pressing realities of our time. 

At the Royal Free Charity, we see the impact of this generosity every day. Earlier this year, we acquired one of the best PET scanners in the world for the Royal Free Hospital, a first for the NHS. So, thanks to philanthropy, we’re making a direct contribution to the Royal Free London’s performance in cancer diagnoses and treatment.”

By tying historical generosity to modern philanthropy, Ramsbottom’s lecture highlighted the ongoing relevance of charitable giving in addressing society’s challenges. From funding breakthrough medical research to supporting healthcare institutions like the Royal Free Hospital, philanthropy continues to shape the future of healthcare and beyond.

About the Marsden Lecture

The Marsden Lecture, hosted annually by the Royal Free Charity on behalf of the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, invites thought leaders to share their insights and spark important conversations about the UK’s health services. 

Previous speakers include:

  • Dame Kate Bingham DBE, biochemist and entrepreneur, who led UK efforts to find and manufacture a COVID-19 vaccine
  • Professor Sir Mike Richards CBE, the UK’s first national cancer director and the CQC’s first chief inspector of hospitals
  • Dr. Liz O’Riordan, award-winning author and broadcaster
  • Dr. David Feinberg, head of Google Health.

About the Royal Free Charity

The Royal Free Charity is an NHS charity supporting the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust and North Middlesex Hospital NHS Trust. Its vision is for everyone served by those NHS trusts to have access to world-leading healthcare, delivered by a thriving workforce and driven by medical research that has a global impact. The charity funds medical research, facilities and services at Barnet, Chase Farm, North Mid and the Royal Free hospitals, all of which is made possible thanks to the generosity of supporters. 

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