Muriel Powell (nurse)
Muriel Powell | |
|---|---|
 Plaque on the clock tower, Cinderford, Gloucestershire | |
| Born | Muriel Betty Powell 30 October 1914 Ruspidge, Gloucestershire, England |
| Died | 8 December 1978 (aged 64) Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation(s) | Nurse, public servant |
Dame Muriel Betty Powell,
Early life
Powell was born , lived and was educated in
Early Nursing career
Powell entered trained at St. George's Hospital , London in 1934 and qualified as a
Later Nursing career
In 1947, aged 32, Powell became matron at St George's Hospital, London.[1] Her age reportedly "raised eyebrows" among the medical establishment, which deemed her too young for the position, but she proved her critics wrong and would remain there for 22 years. Powell was part of the government committee that recommended removal of the title "matron" from the National Health Service in 1968. The title has since been gradually reintroduced to the NHS lexicon.[4]
She was appointed Chief Nursing Officer in Scotland in 1970. However, it soon became clear that she suffered from dementia, and retired in 1976. She returned to Gloucestershire, where she died in a psychiatric hospital in 1978, aged 64.[1]
Honours and awards
Muriel Powell was appointed In the Queen's Honors' list ,first, as a
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.[7]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Muriel Powell remembered : a profile of her life / by Elizabeth J.C. Scott ; foreword by Catherine McLoughlin. - British Library (bl.uk) Accessed 11/5/2022
- ^ a b Nuttal , P. Powell, Dame Muriel Betty (1914–1978) Oxford National Dictionary of Biography. https://doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/50777
- ^ a b c d Scott EJ. Dame Muriel Powell (1914–1978): Role Model of a Hospital Matron and Leader of Nursing. Journal of Medical Biography. 2003 Feb;11(1):3-9.https://doi.org/10.1177/096777200301100104
- ^ Scott EJ. "Dame Muriel Powell (1914-1978): role model of a hospital matron and leader of nursing".
- ^ London Gazette (25 May 1962). "Supplement:42683 Page:4316". The London Gazette. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
- ^ London Gazette (29 December 1967). "SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, IST JANUARY 1968". The London Gazette. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
- ^ "Thank you to St George's nurses". www.stgeorges.nhs.uk (Press release). St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. 26 May 2009. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
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, PMID 12522493(as per the NCBI).