I'm not going to get into a discussion about volunteering and internships in general, as there is only one word I would use for unpaid work and it doesn't begin with a V. 

But this sort of advertisement is particularly unpalatable for the reasons noted by Anna—the job description does not seem to me to fit someone trying to just get into archives/records management, but rather to be looking for someone who already has experience and qualifications. 

Since it is unlikely that anyone would choose to leave paid employment to do the same kind of job for nothing, one can only assume that such positions (and I'm not picking on the RCPCH here, but raising it as a general concern) are hoping to benefit from the glut of qualified, experienced people 'released' by the recession, people to whom they would previously have had to pay a professional salary.

Individuals must make their own choices by their own lights, but I really do think that our professions ought to take a robust position against this sort of exploitation.

Regards,

Rachel Hardiman