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 Acts 1919. Each General Nursing Council (GNC) was responsible for deciding the rules for: admission to the register; for the conditions of training of nurses; for qualifying examinations, for discipline, and the uniform of badge of nurses on the register. The composition of the first GNCs were to include: 2 appointees of the Privy Council (with no associations to medicine or nursing), 2 appointees of the

Board of Education A board of education, school committee or school board is the board of directors or board of trustees of a school, local school district or an equivalent institution. The elected council determines the educational policy in a small regional area, ...

, 5 appointees of the Ministry of Health and 16 nurses to be appointed by the

Minister of Health A health minister is the member of a country's government typically responsible for protecting and promoting public health and providing welfare spending and other social security services. Some governments have separate ministers for mental heal ...

. The Acts stated that the first Councils' term should be no longer than three years and the subsequent 16 nurses' places were to be elected by nurses on the register.

GNC for England and Wales: establishment and register of nurses

The Council was formed of 9 lay members and sixteen nurse members. 2 lay members were appointed by the Privy Council, 2 by the

and 5 by the

. The nurses were initially appointed by the Minister. 11 were matrons or former matrons. 2 were from Workhouse infirmaries. 4 or 5 were members of the

Royal British Nurses' Association The Royal British Nurses' Association was founded in December 1887 by Ethel Bedford-Fenwick, with leading matrons from voluntary, local authority and military hospitals including; Isla Stewart of St Bartholomew's Hospital, Godiva Thorold of t ...

, including Mrs Ethel Bedford-Fenwick and 9 from the

College of Nursing A college of nursing is an educational institution that provides nursing education, often part of a university. College of Nursing may also refer to: *Australian College of Nursing, a professional body for nurses in Australia, created by merging t ...

, including Alicia Lloyd-Still. The first registrar was Miss Marion Scott Riddell RRC, who had previously been

matron Matron is the job title of a very senior or the chief nurse in a hospital in several countries, including the United Kingdom, and other Commonwealth countries and former colonies. Etymology The chief nurse, in other words the person in charge ...

of the

Chelsea Hospital for Women Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital is one of the oldest maternity hospitals in Europe, founded in 1739 in London. Until October 2000, it occupied sites in Marylebone Road and at 339–351 Goldhawk Road, Hammersmith, but is now located betwee ...

and principal matron in the

Territorial Force Nursing Service The Territorial Force Nursing Service (TFNS) was established in 1908, part of the reform of the British auxiliary forces introduced by Richard Haldane which created the Territorial Force. Nurses with at least three years of training were able to ...

. It was decided that practicing nurses could be admitted to the register, which was opened in November 1921, if they had at least one year's training, and that they must apply by 14 July 1923. 3,235 applications were received in the first four months. Only 984 were approved because Mrs Bedford-Fenwick insisted on examining every case. 16 members of the Council resigned. The Minister had to intervene. In 1922 elections were held for the nursing places on the council. 12,000 registered nurses were eligible to vote. 11 were elected by the general nurses (6 of these had to be matrons) and 5 from the supplementary registers for mental health nursing, paediatric nursing and male nurses. Mrs Bedford-Fenwick lost her seat. Sir

Wilmot Herringham Sir Wilmot Parker Herringham (17 April 1855 – 23 April 1936) was a British medical doctor, academic and author. He was one of the first doctors to investigate the effect and treatment of poison gas in World War I. Life Wilmot Parker Herringha ...

was appointed Chair (1922-5) and subsequently Vice-Chair (1926-1928). Dame Ellen Musson was subsequently Chair (1926-1944). In June 1923, as the deadline for existing nurses to register approached, the House of Commons agreed a rule change proposed by William Chapple which permitted applicants to the general register to be admitted if they had worked as a nurse for at least three years before 1 November 1919. 40,451 applications were received. In 1925 the first state examination was held and 4,005 nurses were admitted to the register by passing it. The register of nurses had five parts: a general part with the names of all nurses who satisfied the rules for admission ; a supplementary register for male nurses; a supplementary part for nurses trained to care for people with mental diseases ; a supplementary part for nurses trained to care for children; and a supplementary part yet to be determined by the GNC.

Later years and replacement of the GNC

The responsibilities of the GNCs in each of the countries were extended by the Nurses Act 1943, to include a register for assistant nurses (later state enrolled nurses). Dorothy Smith was vice-chair of the GNC from 1939 until 1944 when she was elected chair. During her 11 year tenure Smith only missed one meeting out of 134; she retired in 1955. Following recommendations of the

Briggs Report The Briggs Report (1972) was the Report of the Committee on Nursing in the United Kingdom, which reviewed the role of Nursing, nurses and Midwife, midwives in hospitals and in community care. It made recommendations on Nurse education, education, ...

and the passing of the

Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1979 The Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1979 (c. 36) was an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom. It received royal assent in April 1979. It led to the establishment of the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Hea ...

, the GNC , the

Central Midwives Board Central is an adjective usually referring to being in the center of some place or (mathematical) object. Central may also refer to: Directions and generalised locations * Central Africa, a region in the centre of Africa continent, also known as ...

in London and seven other bodies.were disbanded and replaced with United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting (UKCC) .

Notable council members and staff

The GNC council members were selected from the most influential nurses in the United Kingdom, alongside prominent members of the public appointed by the government. Amongst them were the following, with their GNC dates given where known. GNC England and Wales

Isabel Graham Bryce Dame Isabel Graham Bryce ( Isabella Lorrain Smith; 30 April 1902 – 29 April 1997) was a British public servant. She was at first an investigator for the Industrial Fagitue Research before going to become HM inspector of factories. Bryce worked ...

(c.1950);

Letitia Clark Letitia Sarah Clark MBE, RRC (1870-1939) was a matron and nursing leader.Rogers, Sarah (2022). 'A Maker of Matrons'? A study of Eva Lückes's influence on a generation of nurse leaders:1880–1919' (Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Huddersf ...

(c.1930);

Rachael Cox-Davies Rachael Annie Cox-Davies CBE, RRC Bar (1862 – 1944) was a British nurse, matron of the Royal Free Hospital, a leader in establishing the nursing profession in the United Kingdom and founding member of the Royal College of Nursing. Early life ...

(c.1923-c.1937);

Henry Gooch Sir Henry Cubitt Gooch (7 December 1871 – 15 January 1959) was a British barrister, educationalist and Conservative politician. He was the second son of Charles Cubitt Gooch, merchant banker, and Mary Blake, and an older brother to George Pe ...

(c.1937);

Lucy Duff Grant Lucy Gwendoline Duff Grant OBE RRC RN (12 June 1894 – 27 January 1984), was a British nurse, matron, President of the Royal College of Nursing (1951–53) and leader of her profession. Early life Duff Grant was born 12 June 1894 in Sydenh ...

(1937-1955);

(Chair 1922-1926); Gwendoline Kirby (1955–1965, representing Sick Children's Nurses);

Emily MacManus Emily Elvira Primrose MacManus, CBE (18 April 1886 – 22 February 1978) was an Irish nurse who served in France during World War I and later matron at Bristol Royal Infirmary then at Guy's Hospital in London, serving at the latter during World ...

(1933-);

Frederick Menzies Sir Frederick Norton Kay Menzies (2 November 1875 – 14 May 1949) was a British physician and public health expert. He was Honorary Physician to King George VI. Early life He was born in Caernarvon on 2 November 1875, the son of Edith Madelin ...

(c.1937); Ellen Musson (Chair 1926-1943); Zena Elsie Oxlade (chair to 1984); Dorothy Smith (Vice Chair 1939-1944, Chair 1944-);

Euphemia Steele Innes Euphemia Steele Innes RRC DN (26 February 1874 – 9 May 1955) was a Scottish nurse who served for 21 years as matron at Leeds General Infirmary in Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, England. She was decorated with the Royal Red Cross 1st cla ...

(c.1925);

Kathleen Raven Dame Kathleen Annie Raven, DBE, FRCN (9 November 1910, Coniston, Lancashire, England – 19 April 1999, Oxford, England) was a British nurse, matron, government health official, health care engineer, and educational philanthropist. Career * ...

(c.1950);

Alicia Lloyd Still Dame Alicia Frances Jane Lloyd Still, (4 November 1869 – 23 July 1944) was a British nurse, teacher, hospital matron and leader of her profession.Susan Villiers (1920-1937, representing Fever Nurses); Grace Elizabeth Watts (Chair to 1973); Beatrice Brysson Whyte (1965-). GNC Scotland Celeste Bowe (c.1970); Thomas Ferguson (medical doctor) (Chair, c.1930);

Annie Warren Gill Annie Warren Gill & Bar (1862 – 2 March 1930) was a British nurse who served as president of the College of Nursing in 1927. Life Gill was born on the Isle of Man and trained as a nurse at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh eventually bei ...

(c.1920);

Elizabeth Haldane Elizabeth Sanderson Haldane (; 27 May 1862 – 24 December 1937) was a Scottish author, biographer, philosopher, suffragist, nursing administrator, and social welfare worker. She was the sister of Richard Burdon Haldane, 1st Viscount Haldane a ...

(1928-); Margaret Currie Neilson Lamb (1960-c.1964); Edward McCombie McGirr (c.1978); John MacLeod (solicitor) (Chair 1921-1946);

Mary McAlister Mary Agnes McAlister CBE (née McMackin; 26 April 1896 – 26 February 1976) was an Irish-born Scottish nurse who also went into politics and was a member of parliament for the Labour Party. Family McMackin was born in Rathmullan,Register of ...

(c.1955); Nora Milnes (1922-); Barbara Quaile (c.1950). GNC for Ireland

Edward Coey Bigger Sir Edward Coey Bigger (1861 – 1 June 1942) was an Irish politician and physician. He was an independent member of Seanad Éireann from 1925 to 1936. He was first elected to the Seanad at the 1925 election for 9 years. He was re-elected at the ...

(c.1920);

Alice Reeves Alice Reeves RRC (December 1874 – 21 October 1955) was an Irish nurse and matron of Dr Steevens’ Hospital, Dublin. Described by surgeon, T. G. Wilson, as "undoubtedly one of the greatest nurses Ireland has ever produced." Reeves helped cr ...

and

Margaret Huxley Margaret Rachel Huxley (1854–1940) was an English nurse who introduced structured, scientific nursing training in Ireland. Her initiatives led to the establishment of the first nursing school in Dublin. She was involved in numerous organisatio ...

wrote the first rules for the GNC for Ireland in the 1920s. Supporting Committees

Rosalie Dreyer Rosalie Dreyer (3 September 1895 – 21 May 1987) was a Swiss-born naturalised British nurse and administrator. Immigrating to England at the age of eighteen, she trained as a nurse in London and worked her way through the ranks to become matron ...

(1943 appointed to the GNC Assistant Nurses Committee); Staff England & Wales Margaret Rosemary Briggs, (Education Officer to 1982); Renate Burgess (clerical 1952-1962); Audrey Lilian Coleman, (General Administrative Officer to 1983); Margaret Cooper (Chief Education Officer, 1974-1982); Gladwys Evelyn Davies (Registrar, c.1939);

Barbara Fawkes Barbara Noel Fawkes (25 December 1914 – 4 October 2002) was a British nurse and nursing educator. She served as Chief Education Officer, General Nursing Council for England and Wales from 1959 to 1974. Biography Fawkes was born in Tonbrid ...

(Chief Education Officer, 1959-1974); Marjorie Gardener (inspector of GNC approved nurse training schools from 1964); Sue Pembrey (c.1970);

Nancy Roper Nancy Roper (1918–2004) was a British nurse theorist, lexicographer and creator with Winifred W. Logan and Alison J. Tierney of the Roper–Logan–Tierney model of nursing used widely in nurse training in the United Kingdom, USA and Europe, ...

(examiner c.1955); Maude Storey (1977–1981); Marjory Warren examiner c.1950); Staff Scotland Jessie Gunn Miller Main, (Registrar c. 1976).

References

{{reflist Nursing education in the United Kingdom Nursing organisations in the United Kingdom

GNC for England and Wales: establishment and register of nurses

Later years and replacement of the GNC

Notable council members and staff

See also

References