Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service (QARNNS) is the

nursing Nursing is a health care profession that "integrates the art and science of caring and focuses on the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and human functioning; prevention of illness and injury; facilitation of healing; and alle ...

branch of the

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Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...

. The Service unit works alongside the

Royal Navy Medical Branch The Royal Navy Medical Service (RNMS), also termed the Royal Naval Medical Service is the branch of the Royal Navy responsible for providing 'comprehensive healthcare to ships, submarines and Royal Marine personnel at sea and on land'. It inc ...

. As of 1 January 2006, according to former

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junior minister

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, the QARNNS had a total strength of 90 Nursing Officers and 200 Naval Nurses (ratings) out of a requirement of 330. ''The Navy List'' (2006) listed 92 QARNNS Officers, of whom two were captains (including one DNNS/Matron-in-Chief), seven commanders, 19 lieutenant-commanders, 60 lieutenants and four sub-lieutenants. ''The Navy List'' (1981) listed 146 QARNNS Officers, of whom one held the rank of Matron-in-Chief, two were Principal Matrons, four Matrons, 32 Superintending Sisters, 89 Senior Nursing Sisters and 13 Nursing Sisters; five of the 145 QARNNS Officers were non-nursing officers: two Senior Clerical and Quarters Officers and three Clerical and Quarters Officers.

History

British Medical Services in the Second World War A11529

Early developments of a Naval Nursing Service

The nursing staff who worked at both Haslar, which accepted its first patients in 1753, and

Plymouth Plymouth ( ) is a port city status in the United Kingdom, city and unitary authority in Devon, South West England. It is located on Devon's south coast between the rivers River Plym, Plym and River Tamar, Tamar, about southwest of Exeter and ...

, which accepted its first patients in 1762, were usually widows of seamen or marines. Their conduct was not regarded as satisfactory. In 1854 the decision was taken to create an all-male nursing service ashore, similar to what there was afloat. The

Crimean War The Crimean War was fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the Ottoman Empire, the Second French Empire, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the Kingdom of Sardinia (1720–1861), Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont fro ...

(1854–1856) changed the field of nursing. Eliza Mackenzie, a Superintendent of nurses, and six female nurses, travelled to the Naval Hospital, Therapia in Turkey. They left for Therapia on Christmas day,1854. They were subsequently recognised by the Admiralty for their work. In 1883, a committee determined that improvements were needed in

medical Medicine is the science and Praxis (process), practice of caring for patients, managing the Medical diagnosis, diagnosis, prognosis, Preventive medicine, prevention, therapy, treatment, Palliative care, palliation of their injury or disease, ...

and nursing care in the Royal Navy. As such, in 1884, a uniformed Naval Nursing Service was introduced, staffed by trained nurses. These nurses served on shore, initially at Haslar and

Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service

In 1902,

Queen Alexandra Alexandra of Denmark (Alexandra Caroline Marie Charlotte Louise Julia; 1 December 1844 – 20 November 1925) was List of British royal consorts, queen-consort of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Empress of India, from 22 Januar ...

became President of the Nursing Staff; in her honour, the Naval Nursing service was renamed Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service. She invited Eva Luckes,

Matron Matron is the job title of a very senior or the chief nurse in a hospital in several countries, including the United Kingdom, and other Commonwealth countries and former colonies. Etymology The chief nurse, in other words the person in charge ...

of The London Hospital to help her establish the new service, and supplied staff for it. In 1914 Alexandra, wrote to Lückes announcing that she was being awarded the Badge of the Red Cross Society ‘in grateful recognition of the invaluable services you have rendered in the organisation of the Royal Naval Nursing Service...'.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) Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service Reserve was established on 13 October 1910. In 1914, with the outbreak of the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, QARNNS was significantly expanded, with many volunteers from the

British Red Cross The British Red Cross Society () is the United Kingdom body of the worldwide neutral and impartial humanitarian network the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The society was formed in 1870, and is a registered charity with 1 ...

and civilian hospitals.

Second World War and until current time.

During the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, many volunteer QARNNS nurses were deployed overseas. In 1949 a nursing branch of the

Women's Royal Naval Service The Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS; popularly and officially known as the Wrens) was the women's branch of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy. First formed in 1917 for the World War I, First World War, it was disbanded in 1919, then revived in ...

was formed; however, in 1960 these nurses were integrated into QARNNS, creating a single nursing service. In 1982 an integrated service was formed, allowing men to serve as nurses in QARNNS. The first man to join was Senior Nursing Officer Rajendrasen Purusrum, who was commissioned on 1 March 1983. Although fully affiliated to the Royal Navy from 1977, QARNNS was technically a separate service until 31 March 2000, when it officially became part of the Royal Navy. Queen Alexandra was President until her death in 1925. The following year she was succeeded by Queen Mary. Princess Alexandra became Patron in 1955.

Ranks

Initially there were only two ranks: Nursing Sister and Head Sister. In 1911 the intermediate rank of Superintending Sister was introduced. There was no overall head of the service until the introduction of the rank of Head Sister-in-Chief on 1 August 1927. By 1937 Head Sister and Head Sister-in-Chief had been renamed Matron and Matron-in-Chief. The ranking system changed during the Second World War.

Rating A rating is an evaluation or assessment of something, in terms of a metric (e.g. quality, quantity, a combination of both,...). Rating or rating system may also refer to: Business and economics * Credit rating, estimating the credit worthiness ...

s, known as Naval Nurses, were introduced in 1960, with the integration of the WRNS nurses. Their ranking system was similar to that of Royal Navy ratings. In 1982, in preparation for the introduction of male officers, the Nursing Officers' ranking system was changed. In 1995 the QARNNS adopted

ranks, although the head of the Nursing Service was no longer a one-star equivalent, the senior Captain of the QARNNS was appointed Director Naval Nursing Service (DNNS) and styled with the historic post of Matron-in-Chief.

Early Sisters and Superintending Sisters of the QARNNS

Several early members of the QARNNS were trained at The London Hospital under Eva Luckes. These included: * Margaret Emma Goodall Copestake, appointed Sister in 1909 and Superintending Sister by 1918. She died in Malta whilst on service, July 1933. * Nita Courtice, RRC, appointed Sister in 1909 and Superintending Sister by 1918. Retired in June 1933. * Emily Jane Gillies Dann, appointed Sister in 1909 and Superintending Sister 1911.Dann, Emily Jane Gillies, Nursing Service Register, ADM104/161/1, 57; Naval Nursing Service, 1894 1929; The National Archives, Kew Resigned in 1914. * Gwendoline Dayrell-Reed, appointed Sister in 1909 and Superintending Sister 1911. Resigned in 1913 to marry. * Florence Henrietta Porter, RRC, appointed Sister in 1894, Acting Head Sister in 1906, Head Sister in 1909 and Superintending Sister -date unknown. Died in 1914.

List of senior figures of the QARNNS

Head Sister-in-Chief, Naval Nursing Service

* Margaret Keenan, 1927–1929 * Mildred Hughes, 1929–1934 * Catherine Renwick, 1934–1937

Matron-in-Chief, Naval Nursing Service

* B. M. Martin, 1937–1940 * Annabella Ralph, 1940–1941 * Dame Doris Beale, 1941–1944 * Dame Matilda Goodrich, 1944–1947 * Olga Franklin, 1947–1950 * Jeannie Gillanders, 1950–1953 * Kathleen Chapman, 1953–1956 * Barbara Nockolds, 1956–1959 * Helen Moore, 1959–1962 * Joan Woodgate, 1962–1966 * Mary Fetherston-Dilke, 1966–1970 * Christina Thompson, 1970–1973 * Cynthia Cooke, 1973–1976 * Patricia Gould, 1976–1980 * Margaret Collins, 1980–1983 * Jean Robertson, 1983–1986 * Eileen Northway, 1986–1990 * Jane Titley, 1990–1994 * Captain Claire Taylor, 1994–1995

Director Naval Nursing Service

* Captain Claire Taylor, 1995–1996 * Captain Patricia Hambling, 1996–2000 * Captain Michael Bowen, 2000–2003 * Captain Lynne Gibbon, 2003–2008 * Captain Helen Allkins, 2008–2011 * Captain Inga Kennedy, 2011–2015 * Captain Steven J. Spencer, 2015–2018 *Captain Alison J. Hofman RRC, August 2018–October 2019 *Captain Lisa M. Taylor, November 2019–? *Captain Neale D. Piper ARRC, June 2021–May 2022 *Captain Peter J. Selwood, May 2022 – present

Notes

References

External links

*
Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service Ratings Association
{{Authority control Medical units and formations of the United Kingdom Military nursing Naval medicine Naval units and formations of the United Kingdom Nursing organisations in the United Kingdom 1884 establishments in the United Kingdom