Emily Margaret Cummins

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Emily Margaret Cummins
R.R.C.
Born1866
Lewisham
Alma materThe London Hospital
Occupation(s)Matron and nursing leader
Emily Cummins was matron here between 1911-1924 Liverpool Royal Infirmary aerial view (14466134107).jpg
Emily Cummins was matron here between 1911-1924

Emily 'Margaret' Cummins, R.R.C. [1] (1866-1934) was a nursing leader and was matron of the Liverpool Royal Infirmary, from 1911 until 1924. [2] In 1924 Cummins arranged what is thought to be the first annual nurses service in England to coincide with the anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale. [3] [4] Cummins was involved in the formation and development of professional nursing and the College of Nursing (Now RCN). [5] [6] [7]

Contents

Early life

Cummins was born in Lewisham in 1866. [8] She was the eldest child of two born to William John Lawrence Cummins, a Major in the army and engineer at Woolwich, and his wife Emily. [9] Her mother was an innkeeper in 1891, and ran the Royal Oak public house in Milbourn St Andrew, near Blandford in Dorset. [10] Cummins lived at home until she commenced training aged 28 years old. [11]

Emily Cummins was matron and present at the laying of the foundation stone for the new nurses home in 1923. Stone laying for the Liverpool Royal Infirmary Nurses Home, 1923 (14466135797).jpg
Emily Cummins was matron and present at the laying of the foundation stone for the new nurses home in 1923.

Career

Cummins trained as a nurse at The London Hospital under Eva Luckes between 1895-1897. [12] [11] After Cummins completed her training she worked there as a staff nurse for 15 months. [13] In 1898 she was recommended as a sister to Anna Baillie, a former Londoner, and the matron of the Royal Infirmary, Bristol. Shortly after moving to Bristol she was appointed Assistant Matron. [14] Whilst in Bristol she undertook a session as a Lecturer on Nursing for the Merchants Venturers Technical College, Bristol. [15] [14]

In 1903 she was appointed as matron of Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle. [16] She stayed there until 1911 when she was appointed as matron of Liverpool Royal Infirmary. [17] [18] [19] Cummins was regarded as being a 'very progressive' matron. [5] Whilst there she oversaw development of a four year training programme for nurses, new accommodation for nurses, and better recreational facilities for nurses including a tennis court. [5]

She was first president of the Liverpool College of Nursing Centre, one of the earliest regional centres of the College of Nursing. [5] She was on the Council of the College of Nursing from 1919-1924. [5] [6] Cummins was also on the committee of the Association of Hospital Matrons. [6] She was Chairman of the Liverpool and Cheshire groups of the Matrons Association. [5]

Retirement

Cummins enjoyed the countryside, and when she retired she planned to move to a country cottage. [5] Cummins died at Teignmouth Hospital on 14 April 1934 from Atrial Fibrillation and a Cerebral Embolism. [20] Miss Jones, Cummins former assistant matron, and her successor at the Liverpool Royal Infirmary, attended Cummins's funeral service which was held at Ringmore Church near Kingsbridge in Devon. [6] Archdeacon Howson gave the address at her memorial service which was held in the chapel of Liverpool Royal Infirmary the day after her death. [6]

Honours

Cummins was awarded the Royal Red Cross in 1919. [1] [2]

References

  1. 1 2 "The Royal Red Cross". The Nursing Times . 15 (729): 367. 10 April 1919 – via www.rcn.org.uk.
  2. 1 2 "Royal Investiture". Nursing Times . 16 (779). 3 April 1920 – via WWW.rcn.org.
  3. ↑ ""Nursing Echoes"". The British Journal of Nursing . 72: 98. May 1924 – via www.rcn.org.
  4. ↑ "Westminster Abbey". The Nursing Times . 65 (23): 663. 22 May 1969 – via Women's Studies Archive.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Liverpool Royal Infirmary". The Nursing Times : 734–735. 2 August 1924 – via www.RCN.org.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "Obituary: Miss E.M. Cummins, R.R.C.". The Nursing Times . 30 (1513): 396. 28 April 1934 – via www.rcn.org.uk.
  7. ↑ "Local Branches of the College of Nursing". The Nursing Times . 22 (1127): 1097. 4 December 1926 – via Women's Studies Archive.
  8. ↑ Birth register for Emily M Cummins, Lewisham, 10 July 1866.
  9. ↑ Baptismal Certificate, Emily Margaret Cummins, baptized 16 August 1866, IN Woolwich, Kent.
  10. ↑ Emily Cummins, 1891 Census for England and Wales, Milbourn St Andrew, Dorset.
  11. 1 2 Emily Margaret Cummins, Register of Probationers; RLHLH/N/1/5, 15; Barts Health NHS Trust Archives and Museums, London
  12. ↑ 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)
  13. ↑ Emily Margaret Cummins, Register of Sisters and Nurses; RLHLH/N/4/1, 182; Barts Health NHS Trust Archives and Museums, London
  14. 1 2 "Appointments". The British Journal of Nursing . 31: 104. 8 August 1903 – via www.rcn.org.uk.
  15. ↑ Matron’s Annual Letter to Nurses, No.8, Matron's Annual Letter to Nurses, 1894–1916; RLHLH/N/7/2, No.8, March 1901, 24; Barts Health NHS Trust Archives and Museums, London
  16. ↑ "'Appointments'". The Hospital . 34 (880): 244. 8 August 1903 – via www.rcn.org.uk.
  17. ↑ "Appointments". The British Journal of Nursing . 46: 170. 4 March 1911 – via www.rcn.org.uk.
  18. ↑ "Matrons". The Nursing Times . 7: 207. 4 March 1911 – via www.rcn.org.uk.
  19. ↑ "The New Matron of Liverpool Royal Infirmary and her past work". The Nursing Times . 13: 2–3. 1 April 1911 – via www.rcn.org.uk.
  20. ↑ Margaret Cummins, Death Certificate, 14 April 1934. She is recorded as Margaret, the name used during her training. Her occupation and her father's names correspond.
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