DAM and Collections Management for Cultural Heritage 2026
Balancing Access, Ethics, and Sustainability in Medical Heritage Digitisation
A Digital-First Transformation
Background
Since the millennium, the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England) has digitised Heritage Library and Archives collections for online access.
In 2021, a new organisational strategy to become digital-first, combined with an expanded public engagement programme, fundamentally shifted priorities from preservation to active engagement with members, staff, and public audiences.
Adopting a DAM platform made possible improved searchability, curated digital exhibitions, and integration of digitised content with born-digital materials, including oral history recordings.
Challenges that emerged
Technical issues when integrating resources spanning two decades of evolving digitisation standards.
Ethical questions around sensitive medical records with graphic images of patients at vulnerable moments.
The key questions we now face
- How do we present specialist medical collections meaningfully to non-medical audiences?
- How do we manage sensitive material ethically whilst honouring patient dignity?
- How do we plan sustainable digitisation that minimises environmental impact whilst meeting growing public demand?
An exploration of tensions, their resolution and practical approaches when undertaking digital-first heritage management.
Alexandra Foulds, Archives Manager, Royal College of Surgeons of England