Muriel Powell (nurse)
Encyclopedia
Dame Muriel Betty Powell, DBE (1914–1978), was a British
nurse, hospital matron, public servant and, briefly, Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) for the Scottish Home and Health Department (SHHD)
. Her age reportedly "raised eyeborws" among the medical establishment, which deemed her too young for the position, but she proved her critics wrong and would remain there for more than two decades (22 years).
Powell was a member of the government committee that recommended the removal of the title "matron" from the National Health Service in 1968, although the title has since been gradually reintroduced to the NHS lexicon.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
nurse, hospital matron, public servant and, briefly, Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) for the Scottish Home and Health Department (SHHD)
Background
In 1947, aged 32, Miss Powell became matron at St George's HospitalSt George's, University of London
St George's, University of London is a medical school located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
. Her age reportedly "raised eyeborws" among the medical establishment, which deemed her too young for the position, but she proved her critics wrong and would remain there for more than two decades (22 years).
Powell was a member of the government committee that recommended the removal of the title "matron" from the National Health Service in 1968, although the title has since been gradually reintroduced to the NHS lexicon.
Legacy
The St George's Nurses League presents the Dame Muriel Powell Award to those who have made important contributions in the field of nursing in the name of the hospital's renowned and accomplished former matron. The most recent awardee was the nursing team at the Wolfson Neuro-rehabilitation Centre.DBE
Miss Muriel Powell was knighted in 1968 for her services to nursing, including her tenure as matron of St George's Hospital, London.External links
Sources
- Thurgood, G. "Muriel Powell Remembered. A Profile of her Life", Journal of Nursing Management (July 2001)
- Scott, Elizabeth J.C. "Dame Muriel Powell (1914-1978): role model of a hospital matron and leader of nursing". Journal of Medical Biography, Royal Society of MedicineRoyal Society of MedicineThe Royal Society of Medicine is a British charitable organisation whose main purpose is as a provider of medical education, running over 350 meetings and conferences each year.- History and overview :...
publication; PMID 12522493 (as per the NCBI).