National Association of Chief Male Nurses

History

Originally called the National Association of Chief Male Nurses (Mental Health Service), this group looked out for the needs of male nurses working in hospitals. Its first annual general meeting was held at Littlemore Hospital, drawing about 65 members from places like Glasgow, Newcastle, Belfast, Exeter, the Midlands, and London. At that gathering, it was announced that the association had been accepted into the World Federation for Mental Health, had joined the National Association for Mental Health, and was in talks about linking up with the National Council of Nurses.

By the time of the next annual general meeting in 1955, membership had climbed to 180. When the Royal College of Nursing opened its doors to all registered nurses in the summer of 1960, the association welcomed the move, seeing dual membership as a good development. The 1966 Salmon Report, which aimed to bring order to the structure and pay of senior hospital nurses in England and Scotland, led to a drop in the number of chief male nurses. The association debated merging with another nursing body; a 1966 article posed the question of whether they would marry the matrons’ association or be married by them.

The merger finally happened in June 1974, creating the Association of Nurse Administrators. Among the volunteers who held office were President Alfred Baldwin (1966–1967), Honorary Secretary John Barry (around 1966), Chair Mr. E. Dawson (around 1955), and T. Thompson, who served as Chief Male Nurse at Hellingly Hospital from 1951 to 1965 and was a founding member.