British medical breakthroughs celebrated on new set of stamps

PIONEERING breakthroughs in medicine by British doctors and scientists are celebrated on a new set of Royal Mail stamps being released today after their launch in Yorkshire.

Staff gathered at the Thackray Museum in Leeds, which is named after the local firm which made replacement hip joints for the orthopaedic surgeon Sir John Charnley. His work, which led to the first successful hip replacement operation, is reflected on the new 60p stamp.

Other great British medical breakthroughs featured in the set of six stamps include the discovery of penicillin, beta-blockers and the CT scanner, and the work of Sir Ronald Ross, which was pivotal in the development of today's anti-malarial drugs.

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Royal Mail Special Stamps spokesman Philip Parker said all the featured breakthroughs had improved the health of millions of people.

"The UK's physicians and scientists can rightly take credit for the discovery and application of a tremendous number of medical breakthroughs. This striking set of stamps highlights six of the outstanding contributions made to modern-day science which continue to transform the sight, mobility and health of millions of people today."