Emily Cummins was matron here between 1911-1924

Emily 'Margaret' Cummins, R.R.C.[1] (1866-1934) was a nursing leader and was matron of the Liverpool Royal Infirmary, from 1911 until 1924.[2] In 1924 Cummins arranged what is thought to be the first annual nurses service in England to coincide with the anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale.[3][4] Cummins was involved in the formation and development of professional nursing and the College of Nursing (Now RCN).[5][6][7]

Early life

Cummins was born in Lewisham in 1866.[8] She was the eldest child of two born to William John Lawrence Cummins, a Major in the army and engineer at Woolwich, and his wife Emily.[9] Her mother, was an innkeeper in 1891, and ran the Royal Oak, public house, in Milbourn St Andrew, near Blandford in Dorset.[10] Cummins lived at home until she commenced training aged 28 years old.[11]

Emily Cummins was matron and present at the laying of the foundation stone for the new nurses home in 1923.

Career

Cummins trained as a nurse at The London Hospital under Eva Luckes between 1895-1897.[12][11] After Cummins completed her training she worked there as a staff nurse for 15 months.[13] In 1898 she was recommended as a sister to Anna Baillie, a former Londoner, and the matron of the Royal Infirmary, Bristol. Shortly after moving to Bristol she was appointed Assistant Matron.[14] Whilst in Bristol she undertook a session as a Lecturer on Nursing for the Merchants Venturers Technical College, Bristol.[15][14]

In 1903 she was appointed as matron of Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle.[16] She stayed there until 1911 when she was appointed as matron of Liverpool Royal Infirmary.[17][18][19] Cummins was regarded as being a 'very progressive' matron.[5] Whilst there she oversaw development of a four year training programme for nurses, new accommodation for nurses, and better recreational facilities for nurses including a tennis court.[5]

She was first president of the Liverpool College of Nursing Centre, one of the earliest regional centres of the College of Nursing.[5] She was on the Council of the College of Nursing from 1919-1924.[5][6] Cummins was also on the committee of the Association of Hospital Matrons.[6] She was Chairman of the Liverpool and Cheshire groups of the Matrons Association.[5]

Retirement

Cummins enjoyed the countryside, and when she retired she planned to move to a country cottage.[5] Cummins died at Teignmouth Hospital on 14 April 1934 from Atrial Fibrillation and a Cerebral Embolism.[20] Miss Jones, Cummins former assistant matron, and her successor at the Liverpool Royal Infirmary, attended Cummins's funeral service which was held at Ringmore Church near Kingsbridge in Devon.[6] Archdeacon Howson gave the address at her memorial service which was held in the chapel of Liverpool Royal Infirmary the day after her death.[6]

Honours

Cummins was awarded the Royal Red Cross in 1919.[1][2]

References

  1. ^ a b "The Royal Red Cross". The Nursing Times. 15 (729): 367. 10 April 1919 – via www.rcn.org.uk.
  2. ^ a b "Royal Investiture". Nursing Times. 16 (779). 3 April 1920 – via WWW.rcn.org.
  3. ^ ""Nursing Echoes"". The British Journal of Nursing. 72: 98. May 1924 – via www.rcn.org.
  4. ^ "Westminster Abbey". The Nursing Times. 65 (23): 663. 22 May 1969 – via Women's Studies Archive.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "Liverpool Royal Infirmary". The Nursing Times: 734–735. 2 August 1924 – via www.RCN.org.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Obituary: Miss E.M. Cummins, R.R.C.". The Nursing Times. 30 (1513): 396. 28 April 1934 – via www.rcn.org.uk.
  7. ^ "Local Branches of the College of Nursing". The Nursing Times. 22 (1127): 1097. 4 December 1926 – via Women's Studies Archive.
  8. ^ Birth register for Emily M Cummins, Lewisham, 10 July 1866.
  9. ^ Baptismal Certificate, Emily Margaret Cummins, baptized 16 August 1866, IN Woolwich, Kent.
  10. ^ Emily Cummins, 1891 Census for England and Wales, Milbourn St Andrew, Dorset.
  11. ^ a b Emily Margaret Cummins, Register of Probationers; RLHLH/N/1/5, 15; Barts Health NHS Trust Archives and Museums, London
  12. ^ 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 Huddersfield, April 2022)
  13. ^ Emily Margaret Cummins, Register of Sisters and Nurses; RLHLH/N/4/1, 182; Barts Health NHS Trust Archives and Museums, London
  14. ^ a b "Appointments". The British Journal of Nursing. 31: 104. 8 August 1903 – via www.rcn.org.uk.
  15. ^ Matron’s Annual Letter to Nurses, No.8, Matron's Annual Letter to Nurses, 1894–1916; RLHLH/N/7/2, No.8, March 1901, 24; Barts Health NHS Trust Archives and Museums, London
  16. ^ "'Appointments'". The Hospital. 34 (880): 244. 8 August 1903 – via www.rcn.org.uk.
  17. ^ "Appointments". The British Journal of Nursing. 46: 170. 4 March 1911 – via www.rcn.org.uk.
  18. ^ "Matrons". The Nursing Times. 7: 207. 4 March 1911 – via www.rcn.org.uk.
  19. ^ "The New Matron of Liverpool Royal Infirmary and her past work". The Nursing Times. 13: 2–3. 1 April 1911 – via www.rcn.org.uk.
  20. ^ Margaret Cummins, Death Certificate, 14 April 1934. She is recorded as Margaret, the name used during her training. Her occupation and her father's names correspond.
Allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emily_Margaret_Cummins
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