Anne Elizabeth Musson
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Anne Elizabeth Musson MBE ARRC | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1884 West Bridgford |
| Died | 1958 (aged 73–74) Antrim |
| Occupation | nurse |
| Employer | Royal Victoria Hospital TFNS |
| Organization(s) | Royal College of Nursing; General Nursing Council |
Anne Elizabeth Musson (c.1884-1958), MBE, ARRC, best known as Matron of the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast (1922-1946).[1]
Anne Elizabeth Musson was born in West Bridgford, Nottingham, in 1881, her mother was Anne.[2][3][4]
Training and early career
Musson trained as a nurse at Nottingham General Hospital 1904-1907, where she subsequently held posts including sister and night superintendent.[5][6][7][8] She also trained at the City of London Lying-in Hospital in 1909 where she gained her certificate in midwifery.[5]
Musson gave her home address as being in West Bridgford, Nottingham[9] until at least 1922, whilst she moved around the country to pursue more senior posts. These included Sister posts at the Hospital for Diseases of the Throat in Golden Square London, and at the King Edward VII Hospital (later known as Cardiff Royal Infirmary).[7] In 1913 Musson was appointed Housekeeper and Assistant Matron at the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport, Wales.[7]
First world war
During the First World War Musson joined the Territorial Force Nursing Service (TFNS), initially at the 3rd Western Hospital, which was head-quartered at Cardiff Royal Infirmary.
She then served with the British Expeditionary Force (World War I) in France from 22 October 1914.[2] She joined TFNS staff in Rouen, where she worked in base hospitals, and at casualty clearing stations (CCS). She was then placed in charge of the transfer of patients in ambulance trains.[2][6] In 1917 she was mentioned in despatches[10] and remained in France for four and a half years.[6]
She stayed involved with the TFNS after the war; in June 1928 she was listed as Matron, 3rd Western General Hospital for the TFNS.[11] The 3rd Western General Hospital was disbanded in 1919 but retained a section located in Dumfries Place, Cardiff.[12]
In 1918 she was made an Associate Member of the Royal Red Cross (ARRC), also known as a 'Royal Red Cross medal 2nd class', in recognition of her service.[5] [13][14][15]
Royal Victoria Hospital
In 1919 Musson moved to Belfast where she became Assistant Matron at the Royal Victoria Hospital. In 1922 she was promoted to Matron of the Royal Victoria Hospital, taking over from Miss Bostock (RRC). It was a post Musson held until her retirement in 1946.[1]
In 1927 Musson became the first President of the Royal Victoria Hospital Student Nurses' Association (the first Irish branch of the SNA), in recognition of her work to create and support the Association. She returned as guest of honour to celebrate the Association's 21st birthday in 1948.[16] Musson was similarly supportive in the creation of the Royal Victoria Hospital League of Nurses.[16][2]
In 1931 Musson asked if a nurses badge could be commissioned for qualifying staff. A green and silver oval badge was designed by the well known sculptor Rosamond Praeger.[17]
Musson presided over the building of a new nurses home which opened in 1939.[18] This homed 223 nurses, with a kitchen, dining rooms, sitting rooms, libraries and modern bedrooms and bathrooms. It also housed a teaching unit with a lecture theatre, a demonstration area (with all the current medical apparatus, space for chemistry work and for nutrition demonstrations) and offices for the Sister Tutors. Importantly the nurses' home connected to the main hospital via covered walkways to protect the nurses from the rain.[18] In 1950 the Nurses Home was renamed 'Musson House', as a tribute for her years of service as matron of the hospital and her work in planning the home.[19]
After retiring as Matron Royal Victoria Hospital in 1946 she was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her services to nursing in Northern Ireland 1949.[5]