The original caption may contain language which is historic and which may no longer be considered appropriate. It has been retained in the record in the interest of historical accuracy.
The caption on the reverse of the photograph reads: “Training the male nurse. Picture shows male nurses at cookery lesson under the direction of the Hackney Hospital housekeeper, Miss M.Miller.”
In England and Wales at the beginning of the 20th century there were approximately 5,700 male nurses, primarily working in psychiatric hospitals. Because men were not admitted to nurse training schools, and because they received very little training, male nurses were regarded as less qualified than female nurses. A gender stereotype was therefore established within the profession, and it was widely thought that it would be inappropriate for men to nurse female patients. The National Society of Male Nurses was established in the 1930s and merged with the Royal College of Nurses in 1941. During and after the Second World War, demobilised servicemen with medical experience joined the profession, and the number of male nurses increased. The Ministry of Health encouraged the employment of male nurses, due to a nursing shortage, and established a one-year training course for men leaving the military, in order to quickly qualify them for nursing. By 1948, Hackney Hospital was an Approved Training School for male and female nurses. It was not until 1951 that the register of male nurses was amalgamated with the main nursing register, and by 1960 men were allowed to become members of the Royal College of Nursing. See also MED01/01/1737-1738 and MED01/01/1740-1747. High-resolution copies of this image are available for free for non-commercial use. Please Enquire to place an order.
This is part of the Series: MED01/01 Series of prints; within the Collection: MED01 Topical Press Agency Medical Collection
Source: Historic England Archive
Photographer: Topical Press Agency Limited
Photographer: Harrison, Norman Kingsley
Kitchen, Nurses Training School, Hospital, Education, Food And Drink, Health And Welfare
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