Mary Kathleen Robb

OBE, OStJ, FRCN
Born11 September 1923
Belfast
Died7 November 2020 (aged 97)
Belfast
EducationBelfast Hospital for Sick Children

Royal Victoria Hospital Robert Jones Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital in Oswestry

Western General Hospital in Edinburgh
Occupation(s)Children's Nurse

General Nurse Sister of Fracture Clinic Matron of City Hospital, Tower Hill Hospital and Royal Victoria Hospital Nurse Planning Officer

District Administrative Nursing Officer
Board member ofThe Royal College of Nursing

Mary Kathleen Robb, OBE, OStJ, FRCN (11 September 1923 – 7 November 2020), was a nurse from Northern Ireland. Robb was the last matron of the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast and steered nursing services across the city during the height of The Troubles. Robb was an advocate for the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and was a board member for 20 years.

Early life and education

Mary Kathleen Robb was born in Belfast in 1923. She attended Princess Gardens school.[1] Robb commenced her training in 1941 as a children's nurse at the Belfast Hospital for Sick Children as she was considered too young to be an adult's nurse.[2][3] Robb later moved to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast to complete her training. Kathleen Robb also trained at Robert Jones, Agnes Hunt, Orthopaedic Hospital in Oswestry, and obtained a midwifery qualification at Western General Hospital in Edinburgh.[2]

Career

After completing her orthopaedic training in England, Kathleen Robb became the sister at the Royal Victoria Hospital Belfast fracture clinic.

Following further training, Robb became Matron at the City Hospital and Tower Hill Hospital in Armagh. She then worked as a nurse planning officer.[4]

In 1966, Robb became Matron of the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. The Northern Ireland troubles began soon afterwards, making her job more difficult. The Royal Victoria Hospital was a key place for the treatment of victims of conflict and for the victims of outbreaks of rioting.[1]

Robb was a member of the Royal Victoria Nurses League and was elected as acting president in 1967, as her colleague Florence Elliot was moving to Australia.[5][6] Robb served as a Board Member of the RCN for 20 years, some time of which was spent as Board Chair. Robb was the RCN's National Council member for Northern Ireland.[7]

Robb served on many hospital authorities and government committees. She was a member of the Northern Ireland Council for nurses and midwives. Robb's work had on an international dimension and she furthered her knowledge in Canada, the United States, Israel, and Finland.[7]

In 1973, Robb was promoted to District Administrative Nursing Officer (DANO) for the North and West Belfast District of the Eastern Health and Social Services Board, one of the most deprived areas of Northern Ireland. Her work brought together hospital services with community nursing. Robb continued to be affiliated with the Royal Victoria Hospital Belfast during this time.[8]

Awards

  • In 1970 Kathleen Robb became Officer Sister of the Order of St John of Jerusalem for her work throughout the Northern Ireland troubles.[1]
  • Robb was awarded an OBE in 1973 for the Queen's Birthday Honours.[1]
  • In 1977, Robb became a Fellow of the Royal College of Nursing (FRCN), a year after the fellowships were first introduced.[9] She was the first nurse in Northern Ireland to receive this honour.[10]
  • In 2003, Robb received the RCN Lifetime Achievement Award.[1]
  • In 2016 Robb received the Freedom of the City of Belfast. This was awarded to Robb on behalf of the nursing profession for service to the people of Belfast during the Troubles.[2]

Retirement and legacy

After Robb's retirement in 1984, she remained active in supporting the nursing profession and was one of the founders of the History of Nursing Network of the RCN. Robb remained active in this position for many years.[7]

She was a governor of the Methodist College Belfast for 10 years and served on the Methodist Church council on social responsibility.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 White, Brian (18 December 2020). "Other lives: Kathleen Robb obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 "Kathleen Robb: Last Matron of Royal Victoria Hospital made huge contribution to nursing". The Irish News. 2020-12-12. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
  3. ↑ Love, Harold (1998). The Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children: A History 1948-1998. Blackstaff Press. ISBN 978-0-85640-621-8.
  4. ↑ "One of NI's most outstanding nurses Kathleen Robb passes away". Belfast Telegraph. 31 December 2020. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2022-08-08.
  5. ↑ "RVH Nurses League has 700 members". The Belfast Telegraph. 11 September 1967. p. 4.
  6. ↑ Clarke, Richard Samuel Jessop (1997). The Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast: A History, 1797-1997. Blackstaff Press. ISBN 978-0-85640-601-0.
  7. 1 2 3 "Tribute to Kathleen Robb OBE FRCN former Matron of the Royal Victoria Hospital". The Royal College of Nursing. 2020-11-13. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
  8. ↑ White, Brian (2020-12-18). "Kathleen Robb obituary". the Guardian. Retrieved 2022-07-21.
  9. ↑ Donaldson, Peggy (1988). Yes Matron. Belfast, Northern Ireland: White Row Press Ltd. p. 149. ISBN 9781870132152.
  10. ↑ Currie, Margaret (2013-01-11). Fever Hospitals and Fever Nurses: A British Social History of Fever Nurses: A National Service. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-134-26527-5.
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