Catherine M. Hall
Encyclopedia
Dame Catherine Mary Hall, DBE
, FRCN
(born 19 December 1922, Sheffield
, England
, UK — died 26 August 1996) was a British nurse and nursing administrator who served as the third General Secretary of the UK's Royal College of Nursing
(1957-82).
Hall began her career as a ward sister at Leeds General Infirmary, later rising to Night Superintendent and Assistant Matron. In 1954, she was appointed to the position of Assistant Matron at Middlesex Hospital, London
. In 1960, Hall supported lifting the constitutional ban on male nurses joining the RCN.
Four years later she publicly criticised as too small a proposed 2.5% salary hike for nurses although she opposed the notion of striking, although some nurses did go on strike, which caused the Conservative Minister of Health (Enoch Powell
) to complain about the "controversy which [has] caused widespread embarrassment", which she rebutted, defending the nurses. She also had difficulties with Labour governments, commenting at one point to then-Secretary of State Barbara Castle
's proposals: "Secretary ... if you do that, I can guarantee that you will not have a single nurse left in the NHS."
In 1977, the RCN registered as a trade union. It eventually grew to be the largest single union outside the Trades Union Congress
.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, FRCN
Royal College of Nursing
The Royal College of Nursing is a union membership organisation with over 395,000 members in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1916, receiving its Royal Charter in 1928, Queen Elizabeth II is the patron...
(born 19 December 1922, Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, UK — died 26 August 1996) was a British nurse and nursing administrator who served as the third General Secretary of the UK's Royal College of Nursing
Royal College of Nursing
The Royal College of Nursing is a union membership organisation with over 395,000 members in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1916, receiving its Royal Charter in 1928, Queen Elizabeth II is the patron...
(1957-82).
Hall began her career as a ward sister at Leeds General Infirmary, later rising to Night Superintendent and Assistant Matron. In 1954, she was appointed to the position of Assistant Matron at Middlesex Hospital, London
Middlesex Hospital
The Middlesex Hospital was a teaching hospital located in the Fitzrovia area of London, United Kingdom. First opened in 1745 on Windmill Street, it was moved in 1757 to Mortimer Street where it remained until it was finally closed in 2005. Its staff and services were transferred to various sites...
. In 1960, Hall supported lifting the constitutional ban on male nurses joining the RCN.
Four years later she publicly criticised as too small a proposed 2.5% salary hike for nurses although she opposed the notion of striking, although some nurses did go on strike, which caused the Conservative Minister of Health (Enoch Powell
Enoch Powell
John Enoch Powell, MBE was a British politician, classical scholar, poet, writer, and soldier. He served as a Conservative Party MP and Minister of Health . He attained most prominence in 1968, when he made the controversial Rivers of Blood speech in opposition to mass immigration from...
) to complain about the "controversy which [has] caused widespread embarrassment", which she rebutted, defending the nurses. She also had difficulties with Labour governments, commenting at one point to then-Secretary of State Barbara Castle
Barbara Castle
Barbara Anne Castle, Baroness Castle of Blackburn , PC, GCOT was a British Labour Party politician....
's proposals: "Secretary ... if you do that, I can guarantee that you will not have a single nurse left in the NHS."
In 1977, the RCN registered as a trade union. It eventually grew to be the largest single union outside the Trades Union Congress
Trades Union Congress
The Trades Union Congress is a national trade union centre, a federation of trade unions in the United Kingdom, representing the majority of trade unions...
.
Career
- Assistant Matron, Middlesex Hospital, London (1954-56)
- General Secretary, Royal College of Nursing (1957-82)
- Member, Commission on Industrial Relations (1971-74)
- Member, General Medical Council (1979-89)
- Chairman, UK Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting (1980-85)