Dora Finch | |
---|---|
Born | 1877 Blackheath, Kent, United Kingdom |
Died | 1943 |
Occupation(s) | British Nurse and Matron |
Honours | Royal Red Cross |
Dora Finch, RRC, (1877–1943[1]) was a British nurse. She served as matron of the central London teaching hospital University College Hospital for 21 years[2] and was prominent in the development of the nursing profession in the UK.
Finch was born in Blackheath, Kent to Louisa and Robert Finch (a general practitioner); she was one of seven children.[3]
Finch trained as a nurse first at St Helen's Cottage Hospital , Merseyside (1888-1886) and then at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London (1888–91) under the matronship of Isla Stewart.[4] She joined the British Nursing Association (founded by Mrs Bedford Fenwick) registering on their roll of nurses as number 331 in 1890.[5] Her first appointment was as night superintendent, the Metropolitan Free Hospital, Kingsland Road before returning to St. Bartholomew's Hospital as sister of St. Luke's Ward.[4] She was known as a much loved sister and a member of the St. Bartholomew's Hospital League of Nurses.[6]
In 1899 Finch took up the position of matron of the New Hospital for Women, 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.[7]
In 1901 she was appointed matron of University College Hospital (UCH)[4] where she remained until her retirement in 1922.[2] During this period she strengthened the model of training for nurses such that she was credited with attracting the attention of the Rockefeller Foundation to UCH.[2] She inaugurated a League of Nurses in 1909,[2] which continues as a 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).[8] This register was subsequently built on by the new General Nursing Council after the Nurses Registration Act in 1919. During World War 1 she was appointed Principal Matron of the London General Hospital Territorial Forces Nursing Service[9] and in 1917 awarded the Royal Red Cross 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.[10]
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.
In 1917 Finch was awarded the Royal Red Cross for her contribution to civilian nursing.[9]