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Nurse Maude and Nursing in Christchurch
Sibylla Emily Maude
Born: 11 August 1862 at Hagley Lodge, Christchurch
Died: 12 July 1935 in Christchurch
Early life
- Sibylla Maude was born in Christchurch, New Zealand.
- Her parents were Thomas William Maude and Emily Catherine Brown.
- At the time of her birth, Sibylla's father was provincial secretary and a member of the Canterbury Provincial Council.
- In 1876 the Maude family went to England where Sibylla went to school.
- They returned to Christchurch in 1879, but Sibylla travelled again to England in 1889 to train as a nurse.
Adult Life
- In 1892 Sibylla Maude returned to New Zealand and was appointed matron of Christchurch Hospital the next year.
- Nurse Maude tried to make changes in the way the hospital was run but there were arguments over the way she wanted to run things.
- She decided she wanted to nurse rather than organise, and resigned in 1896 from the hospital. Nurse Maude was worried about the poor people, particularly the old and infirm, who were unable to pay for nursing care.
- She was inspired by the work of the sisters of the Deaconess Institution (later the Community of the Sacred Name), who provided nursing care for the poor in their own homes. On 5 November 1896 Nurse Maude signed an agreement to begin district nursing in the city, supported by Lady Heaton Rhodes and later the parishes of St Michael's and Sydenham.
- She set up a headquarters for her work in Durham Street, in a shop where she could give out medicines, treat minor injuries and illnesses, and give clothes to the needy.
- In 1901 the Nurse Maude District Nursing Association was formed to support Nurse Maude's work. The uniform, which Nurse Maude wore constantly, was light blue, with white apron and dark blue cape and bonnet.
- Nurse Maude walked miles everyday carrying her nursing equipment, and often carrying pans for cooking, cleaning and washing, because her patients did not own those things themselves.
- Eventually enough money was raised to extend the nursing service and employ more nurses. First a horse and cart were given to her for transport, and later, bicycles were supplied to the nurses. (Nurse Maude was even later given a car which she drove around Christchurch in a way which made other people on the road rather nervous).
- In 1904 Nurse Maude set up a camp at New Brighton for men suffering from tuberculosis, and another camp for women at Burwood in 1905. These camps were closed in 1910 when a new sanatorium, or hospital, was opened on the Cashmere hills.
- In 1915, as part of a fund-raising festival, Nurse Maude was crowned Queen of the Festival, and wore her royal robes over her uniform.
- During the influenza epidemic that began in November 1918, Nurse Maude was put in charge of co-ordinating the nursing of the influenza victims.
- In 1925 she suffered from a serious illness which forced her to give up direct nursing work.
- In 1934 Nurse Maude was honoured with the OBE (order of the British Empire), which she accepted only on condition it was presented to her in a private ceremony.
- Nurse Maude died on 12 July 1935 in Christchurch. Large crowds went to her funeral and she was later remembered in two stained glass windows, one in the chapel in Christchurch Hospital, and another in the chapel of the Community of the Sacred Name.
Summary
- The concept of district nursing or nursing at home was an English one, and one which Nurse Maude first introduced to New Zealand.
- Nurse Maude recognised the need for society to help the poor and ill, and through her district nursing scheme made this happen.
Sources
- Rice, Geoffrey W. Christchurch changing: an illustrated history. Christchurch, 2000
- Dictionary of New Zealand biography, vol. 2, 1870-1900. Wellington, 1993
- The book of New Zealand women, edited by Charlotte Macdonald et al. Wellington, 1991
