Ellen Musson

Who was Ellen Musson?

Dame Ellen Mary Musson, DBE, LLD was Chair of the General Nursing Council for England and Wales. Her nursing career began in 1898. She served prominently at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, West Smithfield, London.

She was raised in Clitheroe, Lancashire. Her father, William Edward Musson, was a surgeon, trained at St Thomas' Hospital. She decided, aged 27, to train as a nurse. She started her training on 1 February 1895 at St Bartholomew's Hospital, London. She retired in February 1923. Half of her tenure had been spent at Birmingham General Hospital. She spent the next two decades working to improve the status of nursing with the College of Nursing and the General Nursing Council.