Today, to mark International Women’s Day, we would like share the stories of Dame Josephine Barnes, the first female president of the BMA (1979-1980), and Dr Christine Murrell, the first female member elected to council (1924-1933). 

Dame Josephine Barnes 

The career of Dame Josphine Barnes: 

Dame Alice Josephine Mary Taylor Barnes (18 August 1912-28 December 1999) was a leading obstetrician and gynaecologist and played a fundamental role in advocating for better women’s reproductive welfare, as well as being a leading ambassador of family planning and an invaluable supporter of the 1967 Abortion Bill.  

Barnes graduated with first class honours in physiology, from Oxford University. She subsequently undertook her clinical training at University College Hospital. She was also the recipient of the Goldschmid scholarship for clinical studies, which at the time, was only offered to 12 women a year. Barnes qualified in 1937 with UCH medals and prizes, with a particular focus on obstetrics and gynaecology. 

Barnes had a long and illustrious career and received numerous accolades, awards and held many highly sought after positions- too many to list in this blog post! 

Here are just some of the highlights of her extensive career: 

• Appointed obstetrics and gynaecology consultant at Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital, 1947 
• First female obstetrician and gynaecologist consultant at Charing Cross Hospital, 1954 
• Served on the Royal Commission on Medical Education and sat on the boards of the Royal Free Hospital, Medical Women’s Federation and Medical Defence Union, alongside, chairing the medical committees of the Marie Curie and Elizabeth Garrett Anderson hospitals, 1960s 
• Vice President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, 1974 
• Undertook work on multiple national committees: Pain free labour (1947); Lane Committee (1971-1973) and Warnock Committee on In Vitro Fertilisation and Human Embryology (1982-1984) 

Dame Josephine Barnes and the BMA: 

Dame Josephine Barnes served as BMA President, 1979-1980, the 139^th President of the Association. She is believed to have been a long-standing member. We can see that in the 1930s she sought guidance from the BMA, on military service, with the BMA advising her to serve and offer medical expertise to ‘the home front’. She subsequently spent the early 1940s as a resident medical officer at Queen Charlotte’s Maternity Hospital ensuring high quality maternity care persisted amidst the London Blitz, as well as taking charge of the emergency maternity annexe at Ruskin College (Oxford). The annexe was established for women evacuated from towns along the south coast.

The selection of Dame Josephine Barnes as President was a recognition of the incredible contributions she made to the medical sector, in particular in the field of obstetrics and gynaecology. Barnes’ work was celebrated on a number of occasions, through awards bestowed upon her by the BMA, as well as the commissioning of a portrait, that can be found in BMA House (opposite the room named after her).  

Barnes was a strong believer in the important advocacy role of the BMA, stating in her presidential speech: 

“The British Medical Association represents not only all its members but all doctors. It must thus represent doctors in all fields of practice and it must continue as it has in the past to negotiate with the authorities for the best possible conditions of practice.” 

Within this speech Barnes emphasised the importance of the establishment of the NHS, of which “its benefit to the community has been immeasurable”. The speech also highlighted the improvements needed in women’s medical services, particularly in relation to women’s experiences in pregnancy. In addition, within her speech she emphasised the need to consider how to create a more flexible working environment in the medical sector. Barnes implored, “serious consideration will have to be given to providing a career for women doctors which is compatible with their role as wives and mothers. This will inevitably necessitate changes in our present system of medical employments. There are many doctors both men and women who would prefer to work part-time in their chosen speciality…but the rigid structure at present imposed makes this extremely difficult and wasteful of talent.” 

Overall Barnes commended the work of the profession and the developments of the NHS but stressed that there was more still be done and through her work as president intended to instigate further change and conversations.  

Want to know more? 

There is much more extensive information regarding Barnes’ illustrious career, including a desert island disc interview, 5 March 1989, and an in depth interview with Sir Gordon Wolstenholme, 6 June 1989: 

Desert Island Discs interview  

Dame Josephine Barnes in interview with Sir Gordon Wolstenholme  

Dr Christine Murrell 

Dr Christine Mary Murrell (18 October 1874-18 October 1933) began her medical career at the London School of Medicine for Women and graduated with an MB BS in 1894. Her post-graduate medical career started as a house physician and medical registrar at the London Free Hospital, she also held an appointment at Northumberland County Asylum. This prompted her, in 1905, to obtain an MD in Psychology and Mental Diseases. Murrell subsequently set up a general practice with a fellow student from the London School of Medicine for Women, Honor Bone.  

During the First World War she served as a medical officer to the F Division of the Metropolitan Special Constabulary and as the Chair of the Executive Council of the Women’s Emergency Corps. Alongside her BMA membership, she was also a member of the International Medical Women’s Association, served on the council of the Medical Defence Union and served as President of the Medical Women’s Federation between 1926-1928. In September 1933, Murrell was also the first woman elected to the General Medical Council, however, she sadly died, in October 1933, before taking her seat.  

Murrell was also engaged in public matters and supported wider women’s political and welfare issues, including the suffragette movement.  

Dr Christine Murrell and the BMA: 

Dr Christine Murrell held numerous positions within the BMA during the early 20^th Century, the most notable of which was her election to BMA Council in 1924, making her the first female member to be elected. She served on Council for nine years, until her death in 1933.

Murrell’s work with the BMA dated back to 1917. During the First World War, Dr Christine Murrell served as a representative for the Kensington Division at the ARM, which included the BMA’s centenary meeting in London. In 1928, Murrell was elected as President of the Metropolitan Counties Branch, the same branch that Dr Elizabeth Garrett Anderson (the first female member of the BMA) became a member of in 1873. Upon becoming president, Murrell delivered an address entitled ‘Our Changing Times’, the speech discussed the changing focus of the profession, with the increase of specialisms, and emphasised the need to keep the patient at the centre, to ensure the best possible care is delivered.  

Alongside both her branch presidency and seat on Council, Murrell also found time to serve on a multitude of committees: 

• Parliamentary Elections  
• Ethical  
• Public Health  
• Medico-Political 
• Journal  
• Special committee for lunacy law and mental disorders  
• Special Committee for anaesthesia in midwifery  
• General medical services scheme  

This demonstrates not only Murrell’s commitment to the activities of the BMA but also a desire to shape the future of the medical profession.