Dora Finch, RRC, (1877–1943) was a British nurse. She served as matron of the central London teaching hospital

University College Hospital University College Hospital (UCH) is a teaching hospital in the Fitzrovia area of the London Borough of Camden, England. The hospital, which was founded as the North London Hospital in 1834, is closely associated with University College Lo ...

for 21 years and was prominent in the development of the nursing profession in the UK.

Early life and nursing career

Finch was born in Blackheath, Kent to Louisa and Robert Finch (a

general practitioner A general practitioner (GP) is a doctor who is a Consultant (medicine), consultant in general practice. GPs have distinct expertise and experience in providing whole person medical care, whilst managing the complexity, uncertainty and risk ass ...

); she was one of seven children. Finch trained as a nurse first at St Helen's Cottage Hospital,

Merseyside Merseyside ( ) is a ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial and metropolitan county in North West England. It borders Lancashire to the north, Greater Manchester to the east, Cheshire to the south, the Wales, Welsh county of Flintshire across ...

(1888-1886) and then at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London (1888–91) under the matronship of

Isla Stewart Isla Stewart (25 August 1856 – 6 March 1910) was an English hospital matron of St Bartholomew's Hospital in London and a founding member of the Royal British Nurses' Association. Early life Stewart was born at Slodahill, near Lockerbie, Du ...

. She joined the British Nursing Association (founded by Mrs Bedford Fenwick) registering on their roll of nurses as number 331 in 1890. Her first appointment was as night superintendent, the

Metropolitan Free Hospital The Metropolitan Free Hospital was a London hospital, founded in 1836 and based for most of its existence in Kingsland Road, Hackney. It became part of the NHS in 1948, and closed in 1977, with its residual functions transferring to Barts Hospit ...

, Kingsland Road before returning to St. Bartholomew's Hospital as sister of St. Luke's Ward. She was known as a much loved sister and a member of the St. Bartholomew's Hospital League of Nurses.

Later nursing career and activities in national nursing organizations

In 1899 Finch took up the position of matron of the

New Hospital for Women The Elizabeth Garrett Anderson and Obstetric Hospital and its predecessor organisations provided health care to women in central London from the mid-Victorian era. It was named after Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, one of Britain's first female physi ...

, Euston Road (later the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson & obstetric Hospital) and was elected a member of the Matron's Council for Great Britain and Ireland, an organization committed to the training and registration of nurses. In 1901 she was appointed matron of

(UCH) where she remained until her retirement in 1922. During this period she strengthened the model of training for nurses such that she was credited with attracting the attention of the

Rockefeller Foundation The Rockefeller Foundation is an American private foundation and philanthropic medical research and arts funding organization based at 420 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The foundation was created by Standard Oil magnate John D. Rockefeller (" ...

to UCH. She inaugurated a League of Nurses in 1909, which continues as
UCH nurses charity
In 1916 she was among the first to register her nursing qualification with the College of Nursing Ltd (later the

Royal College of Nursing The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is a registered trade union and professional body in the United Kingdom for those in the profession of nursing. It was founded in 1916 as the College of Nursing, receiving its royal charter in 1928. Queen Eliz ...

). This register was subsequently built on by the new

General Nursing Council General Nursing Councils for England & Wales, Scotland, and Ireland (then one country and part of the United Kingdom) were established by three country specific Nurses Registration Act 1919, Nurses Registration Acts 1919. Each General Nursing C ...

after the Nurses Registration Act in 1919. During

World War 1 World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

she was appointed Principal Matron of the London General Hospital Territorial Forces Nursing Service and in 1917 awarded the

Royal Red Cross The Royal Red Cross (RRC) is a military decoration awarded in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth for exceptional services in military nursing. It was created in 1883, and the first two awards were to Florence Nightingale and Jane Cecilia Deeb ...

for her contribution to civilian nursing. Following her retirement from UCH, Finch was appointed secretary to the registrar of the new General Nursing Council but did not take up the position following controversy and claims of nepotism. She died in UCH on February 4, 1943. Following a requiem mass at St. Mary Magdalene, Munster Square, NW1 she was cremated at Golder's Green.

Honors and awards

In 1917 Finch was awarded the

for her contribution to civilian nursing.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Finch, Dora 1877 births 1943 deaths British nurses Members of the Royal Red Cross