Phyllis Friend

Who was Phyllis Friend?

Dame Phyllis Friend, DBE, FRCN was a British nursing officer.

She spent a great deal of her professional career at the Royal London Hospital where she received her basic nursing education and undertook Part I Midwifery Training. She held the posts of ward sister, nurse tutor and Assistant Matron at ‘The London’ before becoming deputy matron at St. George’s Hospital, London in 1956. In 1959 she returned to the London Hospital as Matron Designate, in 1961 she became matron and 1969 she was appointed Chief Nursing Officer of the London Hospital Group.

In 1964, the Royal London was the first to install its own computer system; Dame Phyllis was heavily involved in this ground breaking development. She later became the chief nursing officer at the Department of Health and Social Security, London, a post she held until she retired in 1982. In this position she extended the nursing influence at government level and demonstrated deep concern for the advancement of nursing and high standards of care.

For her services to nursing she was created a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1972 and a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1980.