Association of Hospital Matrons

History

The Association of Hospital Matrons was created as a counter to the Matrons' Council for Great Britain and Ireland, which had been set up in 1894 by Isla Stewart and Ethel Gordon Fenwick. By 1919, dissatisfaction with Fenwick’s methods prompted Rachael Cox-Davies and Alicia Lloyd Still to send invitations to around 50 matrons. Only 21 showed up for the inaugural meeting at St Thomas’ Hospital on 15 April 1919. Those present were mostly from London teaching hospitals, alongside Miss Rundle from the Royal College of Nursing and Miss Riddel, representing the matrons-in-chief of defence at the War Office.

The founding resolution described the group as an association of trained nurses who currently or previously served as matron or superintendent of hospitals or institutions involved in nurse training and patient care. This gathering took place while Parliament was debating the State Registration of nursing and the creation of the General Nursing Council. By the end of 1919, about 80 matrons had joined from around the country, mostly from hospitals, though 13 came from poor law infirmaries.

By June 1920, membership had grown to 367: 135 from general hospitals, 104 from specialist institutions, 25 from military hospitals, 35 from poor law infirmaries, 41 superintendents of nursing institutions, and 27 retired matrons. Some matrons also belonged to the National Association of Workhouse Masters and Matrons, founded in 1897 and renamed around 1915, which later became the Association of Health and Residential Care Officers and disbanded in 1984.

The Association operated through local branches overseen by a central executive committee that met monthly in London. According to E Scott, its purpose was to discuss professional matters and provide a space where proposed legal changes affecting nursing could be examined and discussed.