Mary Rosalind
(always known as Rosalind) was a pioneering figure in the establishment of
nursing as a career for women, especially associated with the
professionalisation of the role of midwives.
Her mother
Elizabeth was a member of the prestigious Rathbone family and she was born on 4th
January 1855 at the Rathbone’s mansion, Greenbank House, Greenbank Lane L17.
Her mother had married John Paget, a London police magistrate and author, and
Rosalind was raised in their London home.
When just 10
years old her uncle, social reformer William Rathbone, took her to the Liverpool
Infirmary to meet the celebrated nursing superintendent, Agnes Jones. The
impact of the visit remained with her and in 1875, against much opposition from
her family, she entered the Westminster Hospital to begin her nursing training.
For a few months in 1877 she returned to Liverpool to gain further experience
at the Infirmary. She trained as a midwife at Endell Street Lying-In Hospital,
gaining the diploma of the London Obstetrical Society in January 1885. At this
time she began her association with the Midwives’ Institute (later the Royal
College of Midwives) and soon became a driving force, providing the leadership
to transform the status of midwifery by providing better education and
training. She was treasurer from 1890 to
1930 and was instrumental in ensuring that the institute gained a permanent
headquarters, also founding the institute’s journal Nursing Notes (later
Midwives Chronicle). She was a forceful campaigner for legislation to
enshrine the registration of midwives, her efforts being realised in 1902 by
the passing of the Midwives Act which made it an offence for anyone to practice
as a midwife without proper certification. The Act established the Central Midwives’
Board and Rosalind Paget served as a
board member from 1902 to 1924. She was also a strong supporter of women’s
suffrage and had close ties with her campaigning cousin, Eleanor Rathbone.
In 1935 she
was appointed DBE. She died on 19th August 1948, aged 93 at her
home, Colwood Park, Bolney, Sussex.
