Fever Nurses Association
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The Fever Nurses Association was established in London in 1908.
The founder of the organisation was Dr Biernacki, who at that time was the Medical Superintendent of Plaistow Hospital, East London. He was succeeded by Dr McIntyre. Miss Minnie Drakard was the first Nurse President.[1]
The governing body had 39 members: 20 doctors and 19 matrons and assistant matrons, mostly from fever hospitals and some from the hospitals run by the Metropolitan Asylums Board. Nurse Susan Villiers was a member.[2] Miss Villiers represented fever nurses on the General Nursing Council.[3]
It was associated with the campaign for nurse registration led by Ethel Bedford-Fenwick, and was represented on the Central Committee for the State Registration of Nurses which was established in 1908.[4]
A scheme for training fever nurses was established after it was set up.[5]
The Fever Nurses Association raised the standard of training in Fever Hospitals and preceded State Registration.[6] Following State Registration examinations in fever nursing were conducted by the General Nursing Council. This resulted in a loss of revenue for the Fever Nurses Association. A Committee of Nurses reviewed the role of the Association and made a recommendation that a new Association should be formed. This was accepted and the new Association was called ‘The League of Fever Nurses’. [7] In the 1915-1916 report it was noted there were 2,189 members holding the Fever Nurses’ Association Certificate.[8]