National Association of Chief Male Nurses
The National Association of Chief Male Nurses (1953–1968) grew from a section of Chief Male Nurses in The Society of Registered Male Nurses and later joined the Association of Nurse Administrators. It began as the National Association of Chief Male Nurses (Mental Health Service), representing hospital-based male nurses. The first annual general meeting was at Littlemore Hospital, with about 65 members from Glasgow, Newcastle, Belfast, Exeter, and the Midlands and London. The meeting announced that the association had been accepted as a member of the World Federation for Mental Health, was affiliated to the National Association for Mental Health, and was exploring affiliation with the National Council of Nurses. By 1955 the membership reached about 180. In 1960 the Royal College of Nursing extended membership to all registered nurses (including mental health and male nurses), which the association welcomed as a positive step. The 1966 Salmon Report on Senior Nursing Staff Structure urged standardising structure and pay for senior hospital nurses in England and Scotland, and this led to a decline in Chief Male Nurses numbers. The association considered merging with other groups, and a 1966 article asked whether they should marry the matrons’ association. They finally merged with the matrons in June 1974 to form the Association of Nurse Administrators. Notable voluntary leaders included President Alfred Baldwin (1966–1967); Honorary Secretary John Barry (c.1966); and Chair E. Dawson (c.1955). T. Thompson, Chief Male Nurse at Hellingly Hospital (1951–1965), was a founder member.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 18:53 (CET).